| Declining student enrollment in West Virginia's public schools is forcing officials to make difficult decisions to keep districts out of financial ruin and provide trained teachers proficient in subject matter.
Calhoun Schools has lost about 625 students since the early 1990s, with a state initiative adopted a few years ago to fund low enrollment counties at a higher rate, now apparently in partial default.
A dozen counties, including Calhoun, do not have an ongoing educational levy to fund the school system. Those systems are at even greater financial risk.
Calhoun Schools has been facing a deficit in funding, with Superintendent Roger Propst saying the issue is being corrected after months of work.
The most recent report from the West Virginia Department of Education shows 37 out of 55 counties lost students from 2008-2012.
Since state funding is based on a county's student population, districts are forced to consider what programs, electives and personnel to cut in order to stay out of the red.
More schools districts are considering consolidating smaller schools to cut the number of teachers and service personnel on the payroll.
Ron Blankenship, superintendent of Gilmer County Schools, maintains the decreasing student population and lack of adequate funding in the county has spurred school officials to build Leading Creek Elementary School on the border of Gilmer and Lewis Counties.
The building will house the students of Troy Elementary in Gilmer County and Alum Bridge Elementary in Lewis County.
Blankenship cited the decreased student populations in both schools as a factor in the decision to consolidate. Troy Elementary only houses about 100 students.
Blankenship said the district is now looking to consolidate its remaining three elementary schools to cut staff and put more money toward electives at the high school level.
The problem of a declining student population will continue as long as the economy in West Virginia declines.
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