The West Virginia Board of Education has taken control of Hancock County Schools after a severe financial crisis raised concerns about the district’s ability to meet payroll and continue daily operations. State Board President Paul Hardesty said the situation had deteriorated to the point where state intervention was necessary. According to the West Virginia Department of Education, Hancock County Schools has been operating more than 100 positions over state staffing formulas – costing the district roughly $10 million annually. The state superintendent will now oversee Hancock County Schools while a recovery plan is developed to stabilize finances and eventually return control to the local board.