There was, no doubt, shock following the decision Friday morning of the West Virginia Board of Education to take over control of the Hancock County Schools system.

There have been many questions since October, when financial issues were made public, as to the future of the local school district. It began with the seemingly sudden termination of the former finance director, with the board then contracting with a financial consultant to help review the budgets of the current and previous fiscal years.

As revealed during Friday’s state meeting, though, problems were known in September, shortly after the school year began, when officials contacted the state to report there may be difficulties meeting payroll at that time.

That means the instance announced last week would actually be the second time this school year – that we are aware – in which Hancock County’s teachers and service staff were at risk of not receiving their salary.

At various times, local officials have pointed to the use of ESSER funds (provided during the COVID pandemic to assist districts) to support positions the system wouldn’t normally have been able to afford, as well as various construction and improvement project as playing a big role in the financial situation.

State officials Friday confirmed that played a big role, but noted there also was an issue with continuing to keep approximately 140 personnel on staff beyond what the district could afford, fully knowing those COVID funds would run out.

At the same time, state officials noted there were no “red flags” of any major issues beyond them receiving late or incomplete reports – for which Hancock Schools had been dinged for the last three years.

Add to that, the state reviews each school system’s budget annually, and the finances are required to go through an audit each year. It raises more questions than answers for the time being.

So, where does the school system go from here?

As of 4 p.m. Friday, both Dan Enich and Dave Smith are out of their respective positions as superintendent and assistant superintendent.

Walter Saunders, who it is my understanding is part of the administration in Ohio County Schools, will now be the superintendent, reporting directly to the state Department of Education.

The Hancock County Board of Education’s authorities and abilities will be limited, and they will be tasked with working with the state to put together a plan to get the school district back on track.

As for the school system itself, here is the thing residents need to keep in mind, and it’s a warning I gave a couple of months ago.

The state is now, for all intents and purposes, in charge. Their goal is to put the system on a firm financial and administrative standing, and, unlike local officials, they won’t have the burden of fond memories of attending certain schools or the desire to preserve programs and services.

If it means getting, and keeping, the school system in the black financially, they can, and quite possibly will, close and consolidate schools. Yes, I intentionally made that plural. While much of the focus by residents has been on saving New Manchester Elementary or Allison Elementary, the state officials could very easily come in and say, for example, one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school.

Everything is up for grabs, so to speak. The West Virginia Board of Education, while saying they don’t want to be the bad guys in this situation, have had no issues in taking over several of the state’s school districts in recent years as they, too, have faced financial issues.

It’s no longer about feelings and history. It’s all about the money.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)