As the 2026/2027 School Year begins, the public Schools in Calhoun have once again dropped attendance with the current enrollment for 26/27 being:
- Calhoun Middle High School: 443
- Arnoldsburg Elementary: 146
- Pleasant Hill Elementary: 117
- Virtual Students: 25
- Total Students: 731
Second only to our neighboring Gilmer County which lists 712 total students for the 2025/2026 School year on the WV State Board of Education website.
A comparison of the three previous years of Calhoun County Schools attendance shows a steady decline.
| 2022/23 School year | 2023/24 school year | 2024/25 School year |
| 863 students | 829 students | 776 students |
In November of 2025, West Virginia State Superintendent Michele Blatt pointed to the state’s ongoing population decline as the major driver of falling enrollment — fewer families moving in means fewer kids to fill classrooms. But this could also be the question, “Are fewer families moving in because of the current state of the public education system in West Virginia?”
West Virginia’s enrollment declined 6.9% from 2012–2020, then another 6.3% from 2020–2024 (following pandemic-related disruptions), and the National Center for Education Statistics projects another 13% loss by 2031 . One policy analyst described this as a structural shift rather than a temporary dip.
Multiple nearby districts have proposed closures or consolidations, including neighboring Roane County, which voted to close two elementary and middle schools at the end of this past school year.Will that be a consideration for Calhoun as attendance declines but the cost of operating school buildings increase? What cost cutting factors will the school utilize to make the ends of their budget meet?
A much loved after school activity for students (weight lifting) was recently cut from the budget due to a “lack of funding.” But it doesn’t appear that the administration side of the Calhoun County Schools suffers any cuts. Although one wouldn’t know for sure because their monthly release of expenditures and actions taken in County School Board meetings are clumped into an agenda stating: “Blanket Approval for Invoices, Supplements and Transfers (Invoice list available for review at Calhoun County Board of Education Office).” No doubt rubber stamped without question by our County Board members. While this is most likely standard practice for most School Boards, the lack of public interest and questioning ability allows the school system to cut and move funding to their hearts content without any accountability to the public who pays their salaries.
And speaking of salaries…
According to the WVDE website, Superintendent Michael Fitzwater is the lowest paid in the State of West Virginia at $106,833.00. That amount equals $146.15 per student. At the bottom of the per-student cost ranking is Kanawha County, the state’s largest district. Superintendent Dr. Paula Potter commands a $165,000 annual salary, but spread across 22,132 students, the cost is a state-low of $7.46 per student.
Mr. Fitzwater is not the only high paid administration faculty member for fewer and fewer students. Calhoun Middle High School Principle Michelle Paxton’s salary is $101,239.50. What should also be included in a benefit package to her household income is the salary of her husband, Orville (Joe) Paxton, COO of Administrative Services/Attendance Director COO who is paid $94,944.00 annually with a company car that is driven on our School’s dime to Clay County each night with he and his wife. With the current price of gas, that is a hefty benefit.
An interesting side note is that Jeremy Johnson, Arnoldsburg Elementary Principal, who’s annual salary is $80,204.25, is also paid a stipend of $9,000 for annual extra curricular/sports supervision which used to be included in the responsibility of the facility principles) and an additional $3,000 for Middle School Athletic Director. Mr. Eric Legg, Assistant Principal carries a salary of $79,697.00 and a stipend of $5,000 for his time as High School Athletic Director.
Assistant Superintendent Jeanne Bennett’s annual salary is nearly $100,000, coming in at $99,761.85.
These salaries, (while in the competitive realm state wide) should not go unchecked for responsibility and accountability, as well as how well their job performance is rated.
To the knowledge of Ridgeview News, there has been no check up on how the dispersement of the recently (barely passed) School Levy has been done. The recent purchase of two trucks (a 2026 Ford F350 and 2026 Ford F150) totaling $108,715.15, while invoiced and approved, does not appear to have been a part of any “discussion” during School Board meetings according to their minutes. And although possibly necessary expenses, why are they not discussed? Especially in light of our inability to pay an after school stipend of a few thousand dollars for a weight lifting trainer?
When it comes to performance, Calhoun Middle Highs School ranks 101 out of 105 in West Virginia. Another consistently low number, and yet… it’s not been a noted issue on any School Board Agenda. An occasional disciplinary action comes and goes on faculty according to minutes after the fact, but faculty does not come and go. I don’t think anyone in the county has an issue paying competitive salaries for the sake of our children, if and when there was evidence of a job well done. But parental and student complaints call into question whether or not the “sake of our children” is even considered in the dispersement of funding.
Its a combination of a failed system, greed and a number of other factors. My hopes are that the fewer attendees are a result of more homeschooling happening locally. You know it always goes back to water with me, so it is also disappointing seeing these salaries and then seeing the PSD / local water system trying to hire water operators for 10 to 14 dollars an hour. You can get a job at Sheetz starting at 16 dollars an hour and eat free chicken all night, but maintain a water system 24/7, ten bucks an hour. Another reason to remove yourself from the rigged system. And teach your kids yourselves. The government has too many employees. Fact check that number when your bored. And let me know what you find out.
Excellent point