Dingess Elementary School slated for permanent closure

Another school in southern West Virginia is preparing for permanent closure.

Dingess Elementary School in Mingo County is just the latest in a long list of public schools facing permanent closure following warnings from state school officials urging lawmakers to address the school aid formula

Robert Fields | WVOW News

DINGESS A spokesperson for Mingo County Schools confirmed the planned permanent closure of Dingess Elementary School.

Mingo County Schools District Communications Specialist Troy Alexander told WVOW News "The process just started and they are working on getting all the details together."

Dingess Elementary School, home of the Dragons, slated for permanent closure

It remains unknown at this time where students of Dingess Elementary will go following the planned closure. Officials have also not confirmed any specific reasoning behind the decision.

The announcement follows recent warnings from West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty that declining enrollment and inadequate funding could force another wave of school closures across the state.

According to Hardesty, West Virginia has lost about 5,000 students since the last enrollment count, putting additional financial pressure on county school systems. He described the situation to MetroNews, saying, "the boat's getting ready to hit the rocks," and lamenting the issues he says he's had with getting that across to state lawmakers.

Hardesty warned some county school systems could face financial insolvency and suggested a court challenge may be needed if lawmakers fail to address the state's school funding formula.

According to Hardesty, this would not be the first time school officials have felt forced to resort to legal action to secure changes to the school aid formula, pointing to legal action decades ago for the same reason. The formula has not received an update since it was ruled unconstitutional in the highly controversial Pauley v. Bailey decision in 1979.

State Superintendent Michele Blatt said lawmakers previously commissioned a study examining the funding formula, but she said none of its recommendations were adopted during this year's legislative session.

Department of Education officials previously said eight to 10 schools are already expected to begin closure proceedings before the upcoming school year, with as many as 20 schools ultimately at risk.

PHOTO | File