West Virginia education officials launch student council and oversight measures

The West Virginia Board of Education has introduced two new initiatives aimed at improving state school governance and student engagement.

First, the state has launched the inaugural ‘Super STARS’ (Students Taking Action for Readiness and Success) council. This advisory group consists of 15 students from grades 6-12, selected through school recommendations and video submissions. The council is designed to provide a platform for student voices to influence public education, with members participating in four annual meetings of the state Board of Education.

Separately, the state Board of Education has directed Superintendent Michele Blatt to assign a liaison to Marion County Schools. This move follows a controversy regarding the contract renewal of Marion County Schools Superintendent Donna Heston. While Heston’s contract was eventually renewed for one year, the Office of Accountability conducted an onsite review following stakeholder concerns. The oversight comes amid a federal lawsuit filed by Heston and a human resources administrative assistant against the Marion County Board of Education.