Lincoln County Schools to cut full-time high school social worker post; district plans itinerant reposting

District officials told the Lincoln County Board of Education on March 17 that declining student enrollment has forced a proposed reduction in force that would eliminate a full‑time social worker position at Lincoln County High School and repost it as a county itinerant social worker.

The action is part of a broader proposal the district presented at a personnel hearing to reduce staff because enrollment declines are reducing state student aid. "Due to your declining enrollment ... Lincoln County is losing $1,139,000 in student aid for the upcoming year," a district administrator said, adding the county is currently 26 professional positions and 49 service positions over the state funding formula. The district asked the board to cut a total of 19.5 professional positions (including four and a half vacancies held by long‑term substitutes) and at least eight service positions; administrators said the requested cuts would produce savings the district needs to balance next year’s budget.

Why it matters: West Virginia school districts are funded in part on October enrollment and a certified employee list; the district said boards may make reductions only once per year and must set cuts by May 1. Officials said the proposed change to the social worker post would not increase district costs because the position would be cut at its current school assignment and then reposted as an itinerant position that could serve multiple schools.

At the hearing, the district described a concrete staffing plan for the social worker position held by Carrie Smith. "We want to create a county itinerant social worker position. But the only way that we can do that is we have to cut her current position and then repost it as county itinerant," Miss Atkins said. The district said two currently itinerant social workers are grant‑funded through Mountain State and that grant funding runs through the 2025–26 school year; the district also said it has an MOU with Mission West Virginia to place a social worker at Lincoln County High School next year. Administrators told the board Miss Smith would be placed on the district’s preferred recall list if her contract is reduced and that, because of her seniority, she would be likely to receive the reposted itinerant job when it is advertised.

Carrie Smith, the social worker who would be affected, told the board she has worked at Lincoln County High School for 17 years and described day‑to‑day student needs she said could be disrupted by eliminating a full‑time post. "On any given day, I have about 20 to 25 students that come into my office who are experiencing anxiety," Smith said. She described providing food, clothing and mentoring, and presented support letters from teachers and staff at the high school documenting the services she provides.

Union representative Jennifer Wood spoke for Smith, asking the board to consider alternatives. "She is very passionate in what she does and she's developed very strong relationships with the students at the high school and really intimately knows their needs," Wood said.

District staff answered board questions about logistics and timing. Officials said the district expects to repost the position after the April 1 board meeting. They also said the Mission West Virginia social worker placement is for one year and that the county’s itinerant social worker, if reposted and hired, would be housed at Lincoln County High School but able to assist other schools as needed.

No final action was taken during the hearing. Administrators said the board must adopt any reductions by May 1; until then the proposal remains under consideration. The district also noted that if enrollment increases, professional or service positions can be added back later.

Votes at a glance: no motions or votes were recorded during this hearing; the board held the personnel hearing as required before making any reductions.

The hearing closed after testimony and questioning; subsequent personnel hearings for additional employees were scheduled that evening.