Senator Laura Chapman, R-Ohio, speaks on the Senate floor in Charleston, West Virginia, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. (Photo by Will Price/West Virginia Legislative Photography)
After the House fast-tracked emergency funding for Hancock County Schools, the bill is now stalled in the Senate, raising questions from a Republican senator who represents the district.
“These bills would provide an $8 million loan — and I want to emphasize the loan — to pay Hancock County teachers, bus drivers and cooks,” Sen. Laura Chapman, R-Hancock, said on the Senate floor Wednesday morning. “This is outrageous.”
But other senators said next month’s payroll is already secured and that caution is warranted as lawmakers consider how to deal with several financially struggling school districts in West Virginia.
“This problem will require a long-term solution and corrections that go much deeper than just Hancock County, because there are many counties in the state that are under financial strain,” said Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, who also represents Hancock County.
The The state school board intervened in Hancock County last week fired the superintendent and appointed a replacement due to the school district’s financial crisis that threatened teacher and staff pay.
According to the state Department of Education, Hancock County Schools was staffed by 143 more positions than were provided for in the county’s school aid formula. In addition to a $5 million cash deficit, there are numerous ongoing construction projects, including a $1 million turf project.
State education officials said the district’s financial officer: who was terminated Earlier this month, he intentionally hid the budget problems in the state’s online education database system.
House Majority Leader Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, introduced two bills Monday to lend a hand the county with payroll. House Bill 4574 would create one condition-based emergency fund for financially distressed counties; House Bill 4575 would donate $8 million to the state Education Department for Hancock County so the school district can pay its employees.
The House of Representatives suspended the constitutional provisions on the same day to pass both bills and sent it to the Senate. The bills have been referred to two Senate committees and have not yet been approved for consideration.
Chapman told Senate members that they have overridden constitutional provisions for other bills in the past.
“These actions show the public exactly where our priorities lie,” she said. “Do we expect our teachers and staff to show up to work when they don’t receive a paycheck? What about the children when schools are closed due to staffing shortages? Hancock County’s teachers and staff did nothing wrong. They were not involved in the administrative decisions.”
Weld said there There was no need for the Senate to take up the bills immediately because the salary emergency passed after the state school board intervened.
“There will never be a day without school because there is no money or no one gets a paycheck,” he said. “The state, through the Board of Education, will provide funds for the June state relief formula that will be used for February payroll.” Weld said the state will make decisions in February on whether Hancock County Schools needs additional funding to make future payroll.
Jason Barrett, Senate Finance Chairman said MetroNews Talkline that immediate financial assistance was needed in Hancock County.
“I think it’s important that teachers, school service staff and those in Hancock County know that payroll will be met; they will be paid.” Barrett said.
Weld said the Senate will operate the emergency school fund bill or another law to create more accountability for public school finances.
“For the last three years, Hancock County schools have received a clean audit… How could this happen? Are we not looking at the right numbers?” World questioned. He said members want to make sure this financial situation doesn’t happen “again and again” in other school systems.
Americans for Prosperity-West Virginia, a right-wing think tank, has urged lawmakers to reject emergency funding for financially strapped counties. The group called the bill misguided and fiscally irresponsible.
“The legislation was sold as a remedy for a single instance in which the Hancock County school system is currently unable to meet its obligations, but it will quickly serve as a way for bad actors to engage in more bad behavior,” they wrote in a statement Tuesday.
On the Senate floor, Minority Leader Mike Woelfel praised Senate President Randy Smith’s efforts It is necessary to examine with due caution the bills that were so quickly passed by the House of Representatives.
“With local control comes local responsibility,” said Woelfel, D-Cabell. “I’m not necessarily against what the senator is advocating, but in this case, thanks to your leadership, we will take our time and get it right.”
Woelfel said the Hancock County district attorney should conduct an investigation to determine whether or not there was criminal wrongdoing in the school’s financial failure.
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