Superintendent

 

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Dr. Leatha G. Williams is an American educational administrator serving as the Superintendent of Pocahontas County Schools in West Virginia.

Career Timeline & Key Roles

• Superintendent, Pocahontas County Schools (July 2025–Present):
  
  
  • Selected by the Pocahontas County Board of Education on May 6, 2025, assuming official duties on July 1, 2025.
    
    
  • Core administrative focus areas have included state-level compliance mandates, special education policy alignment (WV Policy 2419), standardized procedures for county administrative guidelines (procurement, payroll, and travel), student attendance/chronic absenteeism, and implementing campus safety officers.
    
    
  • Raised in the community of Neola in neighboring Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
    
    
• Director of Technology, Assessment, Accountability, and Food Services, Braxton County Schools:
  
  
  • Oversaw curriculum assessment, data accountability metrics, instructional technology infrastructure, and nutrition services prior to her selection in Pocahontas County.
    
    
• Superintendent, Wetzel County Schools (2015–2016):
  
  
  • Appointed superintendent in 2015. Her tenure involved notable community pushback and union criticism regarding district testing assessments, policy adjustments, and staff communication.
    
    
  • Following school board election turnover in May 2016, the Wetzel County Board of Education approved a contract buyout agreement concluding her term in June 2016.
    
    
• Early Career & Prior Experience:
  
  
  • Across more than 25 years in public education, Williams has served in instructional, building-level, and central office roles across three states.
    
    

Administrative & Educational Priorities

• Foundational Competencies: Emphasizes early mastery of math facts, financial literacy, practical spoken and written communication, and penmanship.
  
  
• Systemic Compliance & Governance: Focuses on establishing clear administrative guidelines beneath overarching board policies to resolve gaps between state standards (WVDE) and district-level operational execution.
  
  
• Attendance & Intervention: Prioritizes addressing chronic student absenteeism and improving family and community engagement through the West Virginia Effective Schools Framework.
  
  

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State of Emergency Resolution & Accountability Framework

• Exit from State of Emergency (February 2026): Pocahontas County Schools had been placed under a declaration of State of Emergency by the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) in early 2025 due to central office administrative issues and high school deficiencies. On February 12, 2026, the WVBE officially released the district from interdiction, which Williams highlighted at the February 17, 2026 board meeting as a milestone achieved within eight months of her administration.
  
  
• Implementation of the Accountability Dashboard: Upon taking office in July 2025, Williams instituted an administrative dashboard framework to monitor compliance benchmarks across board governance, central office operations, and student academic progress to address WVDE review findings.
  
  

Central Office Realignment & Administrative Contracts

At the July 1, 2025 organizational meeting, the Board approved Williams' administrative restructuring of district-level responsibilities:

• Julie Dunlap: Transitioned from Director of Child Nutrition & Food Service, Technology, Homeless Liaison, and CTE to Director of Child Nutrition, Attendance, Assessment, and Student Affairs.
  
  
• Stephanie Burns: Contract adjusted from Coordinator of Federal Programs and Instructional Coach to Coordinator of Federal Programs, School Improvement, Textbooks, and Community Engagement.
  
  

High-Profile Personnel Actions & Board Hearings

• Joanna Burt-Kinderman Administrative Leave Hearing (March 2026):
  
  
  • In early 2026, Williams placed district Math Coach Joanna Burt-Kinderman on paid administrative leave under W. Va. Code § 18A-8 pending investigations into allegations of 8th-grade math transcript/grade alterations and separate allegations involving Math Field Day.
    
    
  • Burt-Kinderman requested an open administrative appeal hearing before the Pocahontas County Board of Education on March 24, 2026, arguing the placement was arbitrary and capricious.
    
    
  • Following testimony from Williams and representation by counsel, the Board of Education voted unanimously in executive session follow-up to uphold Williams’ administrative leave decision as reasonable and within statutory discretion.
    
    

Policy Guidelines & Community Pushback

• Athletic Coaching Allocations & Operational Directives: Williams instituted revised administrative guidelines governing athletic staff rosters and coaching numbers. In spring 2026, these guidelines led to community pushback, with critics arguing the limits altered district precedent and impacted coverage for student athletes.
  
  
• Public Petitions & Administrative Climate: By May 2026, local community members initiated public petitions calling for board review of her administration, citing disputes over policy execution, coaching limits, and staff administrative actions.
   
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Dr. Leatha G. Williams is an American public school administrator who took office as the Superintendent of Pocahontas County Schools on July 1, 2025. Her administrative career in West Virginia spans central office leadership, state department coordination, and an earlier, high-profile superintendent tenure in Wetzel County.

Professional Background & Education

• Origins & Education: Raised in Neola in northern Greenbrier County, West Virginia. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a doctoral degree (Ed.D.) in PK–12 Educational Leadership and Curriculum from Marshall University.
  
  
• Early Career & State Service: Served as a school administrator in Greenbrier County (2003–2010) before working for the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) as a coordinator in the Office of School Improvement and Office of Federal Programs (2011–2015).
  
  
• Braxton County Schools (2016–2025): Director overseeing technology, assessment, student accountability, child nutrition, and federal programs. During this period, she also ran as a candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates (District 34) in 2020.
  
  

Wetzel County Superintendent Tenure (2015–2016)

Dr. Williams was hired as the Superintendent of Wetzel County Schools in July 2015, following the sudden departure of the prior superintendent.

• Mandate & Objectives: Selected by the Wetzel County Board of Education to shift the district away from programmatic models toward data-driven, standards-based instruction, implementing year-round benchmark assessments and direct administrative curriculum training.
  
  
• Controversy & Pushback: Her top-down curriculum mandates and administrative style met intense friction from local educators and parents. Controversies centered on reports that staff critical of the changes were told to "resign, relocate, or retire," as well as disputes regarding special education placements and extracurricular reductions.
  
  
• Outcome: The friction culminated in an online petition with over 1,000 signatures demanding her resignation and heavily attended board meetings that required venue changes and security details. She stepped down from the Wetzel County superintendency in 2016.
  
  

Pocahontas County Schools (2025–Present)

On May 6, 2025, the Pocahontas County Board of Education voted to hire Dr. Williams as superintendent effective July 1, 2025, succeeding interim/outgoing leadership.

• Stated Priorities: Upon taking office, she emphasized core academic competencies (foundational mathematics, financial literacy, and cursive writing), practical verbal and written communication skills, and balanced support for both college-bound students and trade/vocational career pathways.
  
  
• Administration: Operating from the central board office in Buckeye, she oversees the county's consolidated school footprint, student performance standards, and district facilities.
   
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  Overview of the Controversy & Pushback

  
  

  During her term as Superintendent of Wetzel County Schools (July 2015–June 2016), Dr. Leatha Williams encountered immediate, organized resistance from classroom educators, school-level personnel, and community members:

  
  

  • Assessment Load and Top-Down Directives: Frontline criticism centered on a sharp increase in standardized benchmark testing and rigid administrative monitoring. Educators argued the frequent assessments consumed valuable instructional time and imposed top-down instructional models without adequate teacher collaboration.
    
    
  • Workplace Climate: Relations deteriorated rapidly over reports that personnel voicing disagreement with central office directives were told by leadership to "resign, relocate, or retire". The Wetzel County Education Association (WCEA) and local union representatives formally mobilized against what they characterized as a punitive workplace culture.
    
    
  • Resource Reallocations: Community dissatisfaction extended into administrative shifts regarding special education service distribution and perceived deprioritization of extracurricular programs, sparking broader public outcry.
    
    

  Escalation & Public Actions

  
  

  • Community Petition: In October 2015, only three months into her superintendency, an online petition titled "Petition Set to Remove Williams" began circulating, rapidly accumulating over 750 signatures and surpassing 1,000 community endorsements.
    
    
  • Overcrowded Board Meetings: Regular board meetings outgrew standard administrative boardrooms, forcing the Wetzel County Board of Education to relocate sessions to high school auditoriums and gymnasiums to accommodate crowds of hundreds of teachers, parents, and students. Local law enforcement and security details were dispatched to monitor proceedings during peak confrontations.
    
    

  Resolution: The May 2016 Buyout

  
  

  Rather than completing her multi-year contract or facing protracted litigation, the conflict concluded in a negotiated exit driven by local electoral shifts:

  
  

  • Board Election Pivot: In the May 10, 2016, primary election, county voters elected three new school board members—Warren Grace, Bill Jones, and Amy Cooley—all of whom had campaigned openly on platforms critical of Williams’ performance and the district’s testing proliferation.
    
    
  • Formal Buyout Agreement: On May 26, 2016, preceding the July seating of the newly elected board, the Wetzel County Board of Education convened a special meeting. Following an executive session, the board voted 4–1 (with member Carolyn Gatian dissenting) to approve a contractual buyout valued at approximately $143,000.
    
    
  • Separation: Her official tenure ended on June 30, 2016, clearing the path for an interim superintendent. Following her exit, Williams transitioned to central office leadership in Braxton County Schools.

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  The May 26, 2016, special meeting of the Wetzel County Board of Education culminated in a 4–1 vote to buy out Dr. Leatha Williams’ contract for approximately $143,000. The official and public statements surrounding the decision reflected the division in the county:

  
  

  Wetzel County Education Association (WCEA)

  
  

  • Joshua Weekley (WCEA Co-President): Representing the local teachers and service personnel, Weekley characterized the board’s buyout vote as:
    
    

    “a very positive, hopeful move.”

    
    

  • The union viewed the exit as a necessary reset following months of disputes over the rapid expansion of standardized benchmark assessments, loss of instructional autonomy, and a strained workplace culture where critics had reported feeling pressured to leave.
    
    

  Wetzel County Board of Education

  
  

  • Mike Blair (Board President): Blair kept procedural announcements strictly functional following the hour-long executive session, confirming the timeline and the transition:
    
    

    Board President Mike Blair stated that once Williams formally signed the separation agreement, the district would officially post the opening for an interim superintendent the following Tuesday.

    
    

  • The Dissent (Carolyn Gatian): Board member Carolyn Gatian cast the lone vote against the buyout agreement. While she did not block the motion, her dissent reflected the minority faction that had supported Williams' focus on standards-based, data-driven instructional reform.
    
    
  • Incoming Board Context: Though not yet seated, the newly elected board members—Warren Grace, Bill Jones, and Amy Cooley (who won the May 10 primary election)—had run explicitly on campaign platforms condemning the district’s testing proliferation and calling for Williams’ removal, a political shift that prompted the outgoing board to settle the contract before July 1.
    
    

  Superintendent Leatha Williams

  
  

  • In the immediate aftermath of the vote, Williams indicated she would release an official statement regarding the conclusion of her tenure.
    
    
  • Throughout the controversy leading up to her exit, she defended her administrative record by emphasizing that significant systemic changes were required to boost low countywide student achievement:
    
    

    “I know that change is hard. As the chief executive officer of the Board of Education I appreciate that frustrations with these changes are likely to be aimed at me. And that’s okay. I can take it and gladly do so because I know that what we are doing is right for our students and their futures.”

     

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    In Pocahontas County, the hiring of a school superintendent is governed by the West Virginia Legislature's statutory framework under West Virginia Code §18-4-1 and §18-4-2, supplemented by procedural coordination through the West Virginia School Board Association (WVSBA).

    
    

    1. Legal Authority & Appointment Window

    Under state law, the sole authority to hire, evaluate, or contract with the county superintendent belongs directly to the five-member elected county board of education:

    
    

    • Statutory Timing: For standard multi-year appointments, West Virginia Code §18-4-1(a)(2) dictates that the formal appointment must take place between January 1 and June 1, with the contract term beginning on July 1 following the appointment.
      
      
    • Term Length: A superintendent may be appointed for a term of not less than one year and not more than four years.
      
      
    • Voting Threshold: Appointment requires a simple majority vote of the five-member board (at least 3 concurring votes).
      
      

    2. Search & Recruitment Procedures

    When a vacancy occurs or a contract reaches expiration, the Pocahontas County Board of Education typically executes the search process through established procedural stages:

    
    

    • Search Facilitation: County school boards in West Virginia frequently contract with or utilize the search services of the West Virginia School Board Association (WVSBA) to manage the recruitment, publish notices of vacancy, standard fillable application packages, and collect candidate credentials statewide and nationally.
      
      
    • Public Notice & Application Intake: A formal "Notice of Vacancy" is posted outlining district priorities, required application materials, background checks, and closing deadlines.
      
      
    • Candidate Screening & Interviews: The board conducts initial screening of submitted dossiers. Candidate interviews and deliberations regarding personnel qualifications are held in Executive Session pursuant to the personnel exemptions of the West Virginia Open Governmental Proceedings Act (W. Va. Code §6-9A-4).
      
      
    • Public Action: While deliberations occur in closed executive sessions, the formal vote to offer a contract must be taken during an open, public meeting of the board.
      
      

    3. Statutory Qualifications

    Pursuant to West Virginia Code §18-4-2, a candidate must satisfy strict state educational and administrative criteria prior to or upon hiring:

    
    

    • Certification: Must hold a valid West Virginia Professional Administrative Certificate endorsed for superintendent, or qualify for a temporary first-class administrative permit.
      
      
    • Alternative Route (Doctorate): Candidates who possess an earned doctorate from an accredited institution and have either completed three successful years of teaching in public education or possess the equivalent of three years of experience in management or supervision (as defined by the West Virginia Board of Education) qualify for permanent administrative licensing upon hiring.
      
      
    • Health & Background Clearances: The candidate must complete mandatory criminal background checks pursuant to West Virginia Code §18A-3-10 and, prior to assuming office, file a medical certification confirming a negative tuberculin test (Mantoux PPD) conducted within four months prior to the start of the term.
      
      
    • Residency Clauses: Under West Virginia Code §18-4-1(e), the superintendent must be a resident of West Virginia; the local board retains the discretion to mandate in the employment contract that the superintendent reside within Pocahontas County or a contiguous county, and may restrict remote work arrangements.
      
      

    4. Certification to the State Superintendent

    Immediately following the board's public appointment vote, the President of the Pocahontas County Board of Education must formally certify the appointment to the West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools at the West Virginia Department of Education before the superintendent can assume statutory duties on July 1.

    
    

    
    

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    The Pocahontas County Board of Education officially voted to hire Dr. Leatha G. Williams as superintendent during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.

    
    

    Background Leading to the May 6, 2025 Vote

    • Superintendent Vacancy: In February 2025, sitting Superintendent Lynne Bostic submitted her notice of retirement effective June 30, 2025. Bostic had served in the position since June 2023 following the departure of Terrence Beam.
      
      
    • Search and Selection: The board conducted its search throughout the spring of 2025 to comply with West Virginia Code §18-4-1, which mandates that standard superintendent appointments be finalized between January 1 and June 1 prior to the July 1 term start.
      
      
    • Candidate Profile: At the time of her selection, Williams was serving in the Braxton County Schools central office directing Federal Programs, Child Nutrition, and School Improvement. Her prior experience included state-level oversight at the West Virginia Department of Education and her 2015–2016 tenure as superintendent in Wetzel County.
      
      

    The Vote & Action

    • Action Taken: During the May 6, 2025, regular meeting, the board conducted an executive session regarding personnel and returned to open session to take action on leadership and staffing.
      
      
    • Vote Outcome: The board moved and voted to approve the hiring of Dr. Williams as the Superintendent of Pocahontas County Schools. Unlike split votes that occurred on other agenda items during that period, the motion to hire Williams received full board approval without public dissent recorded against the motion.
      
      
    • Public Introduction: Dr. Williams and her husband, Duane Williams, attended the meeting and were officially recognized and photographed alongside board leadership immediately following the appointment. Further details and coverage of the meeting can be reviewed through Allegheny Mountain Radio and announcements published by Pocahontas County High School.

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    Under Chapter 18, Article 4 of the West Virginia Code, superintendents are constitutional executive officers employed directly by local boards of education. State law establishes specific bounds for contract length, salary fixing, and payment procedures, while leaving the exact salary amount to local board discretion.

    
    

    Contract Length & Term Guidelines

    Under West Virginia Code §18-4-1(a):

    
    

    • Term Range: A county board must appoint a superintendent to serve for a term of not less than one, nor more than four years.
      
      
    • Reappointment: Upon expiration of their contract, the superintendent is eligible for reappointment for additional terms within that same range (1 to 4 years).
      
      
    • Appointment Calendar: Standard appointments must occur between January 1 and June 1, with the term officially commencing on the following July 1.
      
      
    • Interim Appointments: If an unexpired vacancy occurs before March 1, an interim superintendent may only be appointed to serve until the following July 1.
      
      
    • First-Class Permit Exception: Under West Virginia Code §18-4-2(a)(1), if a candidate holds a temporary first-class administrative permit rather than a standard professional administrative certificate, the appointment can be made for one year only, eligible for reappointment up to two additional times (one year each) conditioned on satisfactory annual evaluations and progress toward permanent certification.
      
      

    Statutory Compensation Requirements

    Unlike teachers and service personnel who fall under statewide minimum salary schedules, county superintendents have no statutory minimum or maximum pay cap. Instead, the law sets administrative and fiscal rules:

    
    

    • Board Discretion to Set Salary: Pursuant to West Virginia Code §18-4-4, on or before June 1 of the appointment year, the county board must fix the annual salary of the superintendent for the period of the appointment starting July 1.
      
      
    • Funding Source: The superintendent’s salary must be drawn directly from the school district’s general current expense fund.
      
      
    • Payment Frequency: Under West Virginia Code §18-4-5, compensation must be paid monthly via orders drawn in the same manner as other county district bills.
      
      
    • Travel Reimbursement: Under West Virginia Code §18-4-9, the board is authorized to reimburse reasonable and necessary travel expenses incurred during official duties from the current expense fund; however, state law strictly prohibits allowances without sworn, itemized expense vouchers.
      
      

    Additional Statutory Protections & Contractual Conditions

    • Teaching Fallback Rights: Under West Virginia Code §18-4-1(a)(1), at the expiration of their term of service, a superintendent has the statutory right to transfer into any open teaching position within the county for which they are certified and hold seniority, provided they were not dismissed for statutory cause.
      
      
    • Annual Performance Evaluations: Pursuant to West Virginia Code §18-4-6, the local board must evaluate the superintendent at least annually using tools maintained through the West Virginia School Board Association. The evaluation must occur in executive session and directly informs whether the board offers a contract extension or renewal.
      
      
    • Residency & Remote Work: Under West Virginia Code §18-4-1(e), the superintendent must reside within West Virginia in the county they serve or a contiguous county. Local boards have statutory authority to insert clauses requiring in-county residency and prohibiting remote work arrangements.
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      In West Virginia, the removal of a county superintendent of schools is governed primarily by education statute under West Virginia Code §18-4-3, supplemented by constitutional due process and broader public officer removal statutes under West Virginia Code §6-6-7.

      
      

      Because a superintendent is a public officer appointed to a fixed term, they cannot be dismissed at will; removal requires statutory cause, written notice, and a formal hearing.

      
      

      Statutory Grounds for Removal

      Under West Virginia Code §18-4-3, a county board of education may remove a superintendent only upon one or more of five explicit legal grounds:

      
      

      • Official misconduct: Malfeasance, unlawful acts in office, or abuse of statutory powers.
        
        
      • Insubordination: Direct and willful refusal to obey lawful policies, orders, or mandates issued by the local board of education or State Board of Education.
        
        
      • Incompetence: Documented failure or inability to perform the statutory administrative duties of the office.
        
        
      • Neglect of duty: Persistent or gross failure to discharge mandatory obligations (e.g., financial oversight, reporting, school law enforcement).
        
        
      • Immorality: Conduct contrary to public morals or ethics that impairs leadership and fitness to serve.
        
        

      Procedural Steps by the Local Board

      The removal process under West Virginia Code §18-4-3 requires strict adherence to statutory milestones:

      
      

      1. Formal Written Charges: The board must state the allegations in writing with sufficient factual specificity to provide the superintendent notice of the exact acts or omissions alleged.
         
         
      2. Suspension Pending Disposition: The board retains discretion to suspend the superintendent—with or without pay—while proceedings are underway.
         
         
      3. Notice Period: The superintendent must be served with the charges and provided not less than 10 days' written notice prior to a formal board hearing.
         
         
      4. Due Process Hearing:
         
         
         • The superintendent has the legal right to appear before the board, be represented by counsel, present evidence, and cross-examine witnesses.
           
           
         • Because it involves personnel disciplinary action, the evidentiary presentation may be conducted in executive session, but the final determination and formal vote must take place in an open public meeting pursuant to the West Virginia Open Governmental Proceedings Act.
           
           
      5. Board Vote: A majority vote of the five-member board is required to execute a dismissal order.
         
         

      Judicial & Administrative Avenues

      Beyond an internal proceeding initiated by the county board, state law provides alternative removal mechanisms:

      
      

      • Circuit Court Removal Petition (West Virginia Code §6-6-7): Registered voters or taxpayers within the school district can initiate a petition in the local circuit court alleging statutory grounds against a school official. If the petition meets statutory requirements, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia appoints a three-judge court to conduct an evidentiary trial without a jury. Removal requires proof by clear and convincing evidence.
        
        
      • State Superintendent Intervention (West Virginia Code §18-3-4): The West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools possesses independent statutory authority to initiate removal proceedings against any local school official charged with dishonesty, continued neglect of duty, or failure to comply with state school laws or West Virginia Board of Education policies.
        
        

      Appellate Rights & Contract Buyouts

      • Grievance and Appeals: An ousted superintendent can appeal an adverse board decision through the West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board or file a writ of certiorari in circuit court challenging the sufficiency of the evidence or procedural due process.
        
        
      • Negotiated Separation (Buyout): Because removal proceedings under West Virginia Code §18-4-3 carry high evidentiary burdens and litigation risks, school boards facing intractable disputes with a superintendent frequently opt to negotiate a mutual separation agreement and contract buyout in lieu of pursuing contested removal charges.

      
      

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      The West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board (WVPEGB) operates under the statutory framework of West Virginia Code §6C-2-1 et seq.. How it handles appeals from dismissed school administrators depends fundamentally on the tier of administrator involved: building/central-office administrators versus the county superintendent.

      
      

      1. Principals, Directors & Central Office Administrators

      Building principals, assistant principals, and district program directors are governed by West Virginia Code §18A-2-8. Because a dismissal is an adverse disciplinary action imposed by the employer (the county board of education upon the recommendation of the superintendent), these administrators bypass the typical lower levels of the grievance process:

      
      

      • Direct Level Three Bypass: Under West Virginia Code §18A-2-8(c), when a school board votes to dismiss an administrator, the employee is not required to file a Level One informal grievance with the superintendent or proceed through Level Two mediation. Instead, they have the statutory right to request a direct Level Three evidentiary hearing before the Grievance Board within 5 days of receiving written notice of dismissal.
        
        
      • De Novo Evidentiary Hearing: A designated Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) from the Grievance Board conducts a formal hearing on the record.
        
        
        • The county board bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to establish the statutory ground for dismissal (e.g., insubordination, incompetence, neglect of duty, or immorality).
          
          
        • Both parties can subpoena witnesses, introduce documentary evidence, and cross-examine witnesses under oath.
          
          
      • ALJ Written Decision: Within 30 days of the hearing or receipt of proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, the ALJ issues a binding written order setting forth detailed findings.
        
        
      • Remedies: If the dismissal is overturned, the ALJ can order reinstatement, back pay with interest, restoration of benefits, and the expungement of disciplinary records.
        
        

      2. County Superintendents (A Distinct Legal Posture)

      A county superintendent occupies a unique statutory position:

      
      

      • The Chief Administrator Exclusion: Under West Virginia Code §6C-2-2(b), the county superintendent is defined in statute as the "Chief Administrator" (the employer's lead official who oversees grievances filed by subordinates), rather than a standard employee.
        
        
      • Direct Statutory Hearing & Judicial Appeal: Because the local board of education serves as the direct hearing tribunal under West Virginia Code §18-4-3, a removed county superintendent typically challenges a dismissal not through the Grievance Board, but by appealing the board's order directly to the circuit court via a Writ of Certiorari or by filing an action for breach of contract.
        
        
      • Seniority Teaching Rights: If an ousted superintendent asserts a statutory right under West Virginia Code §18-4-1(a)(1) to retreat into an open teaching position for which they hold seniority—and the county board refuses to place them—that denial of continuing employment rights can be brought before the Grievance Board as a classic education employment claim.
        
        

      3. Judicial Review Beyond the Grievance Board

      Decisions issued by the Grievance Board are not final court judgments and are subject to judicial review:

      
      

      • Venue for Appeal: Under West Virginia Code §51-11-4, final administrative orders issued by a Grievance Board ALJ are appealable to the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) within 30 days of entry.
        
        
      • Standard of Review: Under West Virginia Code §6C-2-5 and established precedent, the court will reverse or modify an ALJ's decision only if it is:
        
        
        1. Contrary to law or a lawfully adopted rule or written policy of the employer;
           
           
        2. In excess of the ALJ’s statutory authority;
           
           
        3. The result of fraud or deceit; or
           
           
        4. Clearly wrong in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record.