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By Bob Weaver
Calhoun Superintendent of Schools gave a report to Board of Education members Monday regarding the first year of his $1.1 million reduction plan.
The deficit is $1.8 million, with officials challenged to continue to financially maintain the county system.
Woodward said his deficit reduction plan has been successful, although he did not give any numbers to the board and about 25 people attending the meeting. Earlier he indicated the plan had saved $100,000.
Woodward said Monday evening that 2.5 full time employees had been eliminated in the central office, indicating earlier that 1.5 full time employees had been eliminated through his administrative reorganization linked to deficit reduction for a savings.
Woodward says with his reorganization he has created a "dream team" of administrators.
Woodward did say that problems for Calhoun High School students with Glenville State's dual credit program had been resolved, indicating an agreement to grandfather local students under the original courses they took as dual credit would count toward their major, apparently without having to pay additional costs.
During Monday's lengthy meeting, the board went into executive session to review the superintendents annual evaluation, announcing he met or exceeded all standards.
Sources are saying that numerous Calhoun teachers and service personnel are filing grievances with the the West Virginia Education Association regarding the elimination of their supplement pay, given to them in 1999 during better economic times.
About 45 service personnel filed a grievance for restoration of their
supplements for 2014-15, and their supplements were restored for one year only.
Teachers and service personnel are upset that the board, with Woodward's recommendation, restored supplement pay to some administrators, up to $9,100.
He said the county received an executive order from the WV Board of Education to eliminate supplements, based on the $1.8 million deficit.
Questions have risen whether or not the central office reorganization are linked to deficit reduction.
Much of the county's financial problem is based on declining enrollment, dropping from 1,700 students in 1990 to 1,066 students, receiving less money through the state's school funding formula.
Recently, Woodward has been contacting legislators to increase the funding for the county.
The school funding formula is based on payment for each student enrolled, a flawed method for rural, small populated county's like Calhoun.
A few years ago, it appeared that rural systems would be funded as if they had 1,400 students, an initiative led by former Calhoun superintendent Ron Blankenship.
Since then, the 1,400 funding rule (or law) has been sliced and diced to help certain county systems, excluding Calhoun.
During the meeting, he praised The Calhoun Chronicle for their accurate reporting of school issues.
Woodward, upset over the Herald's news model of written questions requiring written answers, earlier advised the Herald he is "directing my [Woodard's] office to have no further comment to you on the matter as it appears to be an intentional lack of understanding [by the Hur Herald]."
After confusing statements and a failure to answer questions, indicating the Freedom of Information Act would be exercised, Woodward responded saying, "I find your threats against the Calhoun County Board of Education and those whom they serve to be egregious."
"I believe you are under the mistaken belief that I will respond to unprofessional and bullying conduct. I do not," Woodward said.
See CALHOUN SUPERINTENDENT WOODWARD PLEADS WITH STATE OFFICIALS REGARDING RURAL FUNDING FORMULA
FUNDING CALHOUN SCHOOL SYSTEM MAJOR PROBLEM - Low Enrollment Hampers Budget, Public Information Requests Causes Problems
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