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Gilmer school board approves reduction in force, extends director duties and posts custodian position
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Summary
The Gilmer County Board of Education approved a superintendent-recommended personnel plan that includes a reduction in force for several interventionist and support positions, changes to multiple directors' contract days and duties to save roughly $98,551, and authorization to post and hire a custodian at Gilmer County Elementary School.
The Gilmer County Board of Education on Tuesday approved a series of personnel actions recommended by the superintendent that include a reduction in force, modifications to several administrative contracts and permission to post and hire a custodian.
The superintendent, identified in the meeting as Dr. Minnie, said the personnel plan is intended "to maximize the funding formula to provide students in Gilmer County Schools with the direct educational services" while trying to "maintain all employees at Gilmer County Schools employment status to maintain full time job." He told the board the district's enrollment has declined from 761 in 2023–24 to 719 last year and to 708 this year.
Why it matters: Board members approved reassignments and contract changes intended to reduce district payroll obligations while keeping critical services. The superintendent said absorbing a director position and reallocating duties would reduce salary-and-benefit costs by about $98,551.
Key votes and actions approved included a reduction in force list, contract-day and duty changes for multiple director/coordinator roles, and authorization to post and hire a custodian at Gilmer County Elementary School.
On the reduction in force, the superintendent read the affected positions the board approved: Anthony Canfield, extra-duty custodian at the Gilmer County Board of Education office; Craig Arthur, interventionist at Gilmer County High School; Eileen Matheny, interventionist at Gilmer County High School; and Michelle Workman, truancy diversion specialist. The board voted on the motion to approve the RIF and the chair announced the motion carried.
The board also approved changing several administrative contracts from 250 or 230 days to 261 days and adding duties. Among the adjustments approved: the director of student support services would shift duties to oversee West Virginia School Choice options (including HOPE scholarship, homeschool and microschool contacts), the director of maintenance/transportation/food service would add open-enrollment and service-personnel compliance duties, the director of teaching and learning would take on McKinney-Vento liaison duties and performance-evaluation responsibilities, and the director of finance would assume e-rate administration and competitive-bid oversight for technology purchases.
The superintendent said those reallocations and longer service contracts are expected to allow the district to absorb one director-level position rather than hire a replacement, producing the stated savings.
Board members moved and seconded each recommendation; votes were called and the chair stated each motion carried.
Next steps: The superintendent will proceed with posting the custodian position and implement the contract modifications and certified-list changes as approved for the 2026–27 school year.
