Cabell County Schools report 217-student drop and warn state funding formula could cut 28 positions

A Cabell County Schools staff member told the Board of Education during a budget presentation that the district’s uncertified October head count was 10,961 while full‑time‑equivalent enrollment (FTE) was 10,887.59, a net loss of 217 students compared with the prior year.

The drop matters because West Virginia’s school funding formulas allocate positions and money based on FTE. The staff member said the district’s calculations show the 217‑student decline would translate into an average reduction in state‑funded staffing equivalent to roughly 28.83 positions for the next funding cycle, commonly referred to in the presentation by three West Virginia code citations the presenter read aloud (18 9 8 4, 18 9 8 5 and 18 9 a 8 as cited in the slides).

Why it matters: the district’s staffing and budget are set against those statutory ratios. The presenter said the per‑1,000 student ratios discussed on the slides are 72.3 professional educators, 53.79 service personnel and a combined…