Pocahontas County High School identified several systemic issues that contributed to the review.

 

The Special Circumstance Review of Pocahontas County High School identified several systemic issues that contributed to the review. These issues span multiple focus areas, including the Comprehensive School Counseling Program, grading and scheduling, leadership, and special education.

Specific systemic issues identified in the report include:

• Lack of a certified school counselor. The previous counselor retired, and a qualified replacement was not found.
• Inadequate training and expertise in grading, transcribing, and scheduling. A single staff member was responsible for these tasks with limited training, and the school principal and central office staff lacked the experience to oversee these processes.
• Inconsistencies in course codes and naming of courses. This created potential issues with college admissions, scholarship applications, and collegiate athletic eligibility.
• Lack of clear policies and procedures for grading practices. There was no consistent process for making changes to grades, creating the potential for undue influence on teachers.
• Insufficient approach to credit recovery. Issues included conflicting guidance, a lack of communication, inaccurate or incomplete records, and poor instructional quality.
• Inadequate support for the new principal from the central office. The principal was not provided with an appropriate mentor.
• Lack of a cohesive vision and focused mission for the school. Schoolwide procedures to support efficient operations and effective instruction were not implemented.
• Lack of communication between central office leaders, school administrators, and school personnel.
• Inconsistent implementation of disciplinary protocols. A lack of communication led to inconsistent interpretation among staff members.
• Insufficient school access and security measures.
• Lack of access to camera footage in special education classrooms for the principal.
• Special Education program deficiencies. These included issues with service verifications, annual review timelines, and standards-based IEPs.
• Lack of a Student Assistance Team (SAT).
• Lack of procedures for transfer students, especially those transferring from out-of-state.

These systemic issues led to multiple points of noncompliance with West Virginia Board of Education policies and West Virginia state code.