Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
PROPOSED CLOSURE AND MERGER OF PICKENS SCHOOL K-12 INTO GEORGE WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND TYGARTS VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH 6-12TH SCHOOL RANDOLPH COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Randolph County Board of Education will hold three public hearings on the Superintendent’s recommendation to close Picken School K-12 at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, and to merge it into George Ward Elementary School and Tygarts Valley Middle/High School at that time, as follows:
LOCATION:
Pickens School K-12, at Elkins High School, 100 Kennedy Drive, Elkins, WV 26241
DATE AND TIME:
October 14, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
Sign in to speak between 5:00 p.m.
and 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION:
George Ward Elementary School at Elkins High School, 100 Kennedy Drive, Elkins, WV 26241
DATE AND TIME:
October 14, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
Sign in to speak between 5:30 and
6:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
Tygarts Valley Middle/High School at Elkins High School, 100 Kennedy Drive, Elkins, WV 26241
DATE AND TIME:
October 14, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Sign in to speak between 6:00 p.m. and
6:30 p.m.
If a public hearing is not completed by 11 p.m., it will be recessed, to be continued on a date and at a time designated and announced by the Board just prior to the hearing recess, to be continued day-to-day until concluded. The public hearings, as well as any reconvened session of the public hearings, shall end at the conclusion of each hearing’s business or at 11 p.m., whichever occurs earlier.
ALTERNATE DATES AND TIMES
If it is determined that the meeting location is insufficient size, the hearing location is subject to change. Alternate date(s) may be necessary should a hearing require additional time or be unable to be held on the scheduled date due to inclement weather or other factors beyond the control of the county. If, due to inclement weather or other causes, any hearing cannot be held on the scheduled date, the hearing or meeting will be held at the same location and time as originally scheduled, but on October 22, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
HEARING PROCEDURES
For a period of 30 minutes prior to the commencement of a public hearing, people may and are encouraged to register at the hearing location for the purpose of making statements, offering testimony, and questioning school officials concerning the proposals. Each hearing will begin with an announcement of the procedural process followed by an oral summary from the Superintendent of the reasons and supporting data in connection with the proposed action by the Board. Speakers will then be recognized in the order in which they registered. Each speaker shall be provided 3 minutes, in accordance with West Virginia State Board of Education Policy 6204.
SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN
MATERIAL
The Board will consider any written material submitted by members of the public concerning the proposals if the material, with 6 copies, is submitted to and received by the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 40 Eleventh Street, Elkins, West Virginia, 26241 before 4:00 p.m. on October 3, 2025 including any findings and recommendations from the local school improvement councils representing Pickens K-12 School, Tygarts Valley Middle High School, and George Ward Elementary School.
REASONS AND
SUPPORTING DATA
Until the date of the first hearing, written reasons for the Superintendent’s recommendations in the form of an Impact Statement and Supporting Data are available for public inspection in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 40 Eleventh Street, Elkins, West Virginia, on weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
FINAL ACTION
It is anticipated that the Board of Education will take formal action on the Superintendent’s proposal to close Pickens K-12 School at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, and to merge it into George Ward Elementary School and Tygarts Valley Middle High School, at its meeting at Elkins High School, 100 Kennedy Drive, Elkins, West Virginia, 26241 on October 14, 2025 at the conclusion of the final public hearing.
Shawn L. Dilly, Ph.D.,
Superintendent
Randolph County Board of Education
First Run: September 12, 2025
Second Run: September 29, 2025
Third Run: October 6, 2025
In addition, this notice shall be posted at all schools, bus garages, and the maintenance areas in the county in conspicuous working areas, for all professional and service personnel to observe.
09/12/25, 09/29/25, 10/06/25