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Ohio County superintendent highlights RAND study, enrollment decline and new state mandates
Summary
Superintendent Doctor Miller told the board the RAND report offers evidence-based guidance for West Virginia schools, warned Ohio County enrollment is down, and outlined state mandates that increase paraprofessional and counseling support and change how student-support personnel are funded.
Doctor Miller, the Ohio County Schools superintendent, told the board Feb. 23 that a recent RAND report offers "rigorous evidence-based analysis" for West Virginia public schools and should guide policy.
He said the RAND analysis focuses on funding inequities, supports for high-need students and evaluation of voucher programs. "The recommendations are grounded in data, offering practical, measurable steps for improving outcomes," he said.
Why it matters: Much local school funding is tied to student enrollment. Doctor Miller said Ohio County has seen enrollment declines tied to lower birth rates and school choice, and that those declines reduce the county’s state funding. He told the board that the district has nearly 872 children on individualized education programs and that the district’s special-education budget is "just under $2,000,000," underscoring rising costs for mandated services.
State policy changes: Doctor Miller reviewed recent legislation he said affects staffing and funding. He cited what he called the Third Grade Success Act (referred to in the meeting as "House Bill 30 35") and a bill passed in a February special session that changed how student-support personnel are funded, including additional counselors and social-emotional supports. He said the K–3 paraprofessional requirement led to more paraprofessionals and that the district has used interventionists in some schools to meet instructional needs.
Board follow-up: A board member asked whether the K–3 paraprofessional mandate was fully funded. Doctor Miller replied the mandate is "partially funded" at the state level and that Ohio County must cover costs above the state allocation; he explained preschool and kindergarten class-size guidance and the district’s approach using interventionists and paraprofessionals.
The superintendent asked that his summary be distributed to board members so they can discuss the findings and implications with community stakeholders.
