School Budget Cuts, Shepherdstown Project Plans, Ranson Zoning Changes
Published about 24 hours ago • 14 min read
Observer Weekly
April 9, 2026
Jefferson County, WV news & events
A quick preview of what we’re covering this week:
The question on the table in Ranson is how to encourage a more balanced mix of commercial development along with the residential development that has boomed in the city over the past several years.
In Shepherdstown, the discussion is about fostering community spirit and planning for some inevitable expansion and new housing developments.
Although the population growth in Jefferson County has not yet hit the public schools, the Board of Education is feeling the pressure from growth in other ways. A lot of this has to do with how little power resides with the county school board in WV’s highly centralized system. The BOE is several weeks away from seeing a budget for the next school year, but there are already concerns floating around the county about potential cutbacks to middle school sports and other extracurricular programs.
— Steve Pearson
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State Formula Squeezes Jefferson County Schools Budget
Jefferson High School Marching Band in Shepherdstown parade
The Jefferson County Board of Education (BOE) will get a first look at the budget for the 2026-2027 school year at its regular meeting on May 4. Following the staff presentation at that meeting, the board will finalize the budget by May 16 and then hold a public hearing on May 26.
School funding and operations in West Virginia are tightly controlled by the state and the county-level boards of education have very circumscribed powers.
State law requires the Superintendent’s office to notify current staff of any possible “reductions in force” (RIF) by April 1, even if the BOE has not yet weighed in on those plans. According to information circulating on social media and in the community, RIF notices have been provided to numerous Jefferson County Schools’ staff members, including individuals supporting middle school athletic and high school extracurricular programs.
State Controls School Funding
According to a mid-year financial report presented to the BOE on March 9, approximately half of the Jefferson County Schools operating budget is provided by state/federal funds and half comes from local tax revenue.
The local revenue is divided into two streams: the regular levy and the “excess” levy. The state uses a funding formula based on student enrollment to provide its share of the local school budget. This formula deducts the regular levy funds from the state’s share — so even if local tax collections increase, the state funding is reduced and the net total of the state and regular levy funding stays flat.
The “excess” levy rate is approved by local voters with a referendum on the ballot every five years.
Jefferson County voters approved a new levy rate in 2024, to go into effect on July 1, 2026. This levy directs approximately 85% of these funds to compensation for teachers and staff, split into two major components:
A form of “locality pay” that allows the BOE to provide additional compensation to all teachers and staff
Funding for teaching and staff positions that are not eligible to be funded by the regular levy/state funding (for example, art teachers, counselors, and other staffing in excess of the minimums prescribed by the state).
Counties See Increased Demand For Special Education
Earlier this year the superintendents of all 55 counties provided an update on special education funding to the legislature. All but 6 counties reported that their special education expenses exceeded the amount allocated in the regular levy/state funding for the 2024-2025 school year.
For these 49 counties, that means they are using revenue from other sources — including the excess levy funds — to cover the portion of special education expenses above what the state is currently funding.
On a per-capita basis, Berkeley and Jefferson were at the top of the list: Berkeley reported that it used $38 million in local funds to cover the costs of special education services and Jefferson reported it used $11 million in local funds.
HB 5453, a bill to modify the school funding formula and increase the amounts available for special education, received broad support in both the House and Senate during the most recent legislative session. The bill passed the House by a vote of 89-2 (8 absent). The Senate amended the bill to start the funding increase sooner and passed it by a vote of 32-0 (2 absent). Unfortunately, the House did not get to vote on the amended Senate version before the clock ran out and the legislative session ended.
Counties Faced With Tough Choices Without State Changes
County boards of education have flexibility in how they apply their excess levy funds — but only after they fully fund required services (regardless of whether or not those required services are covered by the state funding). That means that the local program enhancements funded by the excess levy are at risk until the state updates its funding formula to reflect the realities of the escalating cost burdens on the local school systems.
The Jefferson County Board of Education meets in the auditorium of Washington High School (300 Washington Patriots Drive, Charles Town). Meetings begin at 6:00 pm. The meeting schedule, agendas and minutes are available via the BOE website. Public comment is accepted at the beginning of each meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 13.
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Ranson Planning Commission Ponders Zoning Changes
Ranson Planning Commission
The Ranson Planning Commission had only two items on the agenda for its meeting on Monday, April 6, both related to concerns about the patterns of dense residential development the City has experienced over the past four years.
The commissioners quickly realized that both topics were complicated. The first item, introduced by commissioner Jaden Bound (who also serves on the City Council), proposed changing the City’s future land use map to designate certain areas for lower-density use. Commissioner Mike Fagan pointed out that the land use map designates uses rather than density. Commissioner Andy Colandrea (who also serves on the City Council) noted that the future land use map could not be changed without going through the formal process of amending the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a process that was just completed in 2024.
The Commission took no action on the land use map and quickly moved on to the next topic: a discussion about amending the City’s zoning ordinance with the aim of encouraging more mixed use development and less dense residential development. The planning commissioners seemed to be in agreement on these goals, but it quickly became clear that amending the zoning ordinance would be more complicated than just adjusting the density numbers allowed in the “R6” and “R7” zones.
The discussion circled back to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which defines these zones — so any change would require opening up that plan again. The commissioners then asked about adjusting the definitions of the City’s “Smart Code” zones, but that line of discussion quickly bogged down as well when the commissioners realized the Smart Code zoning code is holistic by design — with a focus on creating walkable neighborhoods with compatible uses and consistent scale, rather than specific density goals (graphic below).
Ranson adopted the Smart Code zoning in conjunction with the City’s 2012 Comprehensive Plan, designating neighborhood types that scale from rural to dense urban. The Planning Commission plans to have a follow-up presentation and discussion on the Smart Code zoning at its May 11 meeting.
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April’s Town Council meeting featured several topics connected to the town’s vitality and livability: pedestrian safety on its historic streets, the future of the area around its landmark Market House, and how the town can manage growth.
Pedestrian Safety a Recurring Theme
Pedestrian safety was a priority concern throughout the evening. Several residents who spoke during public comment called for stronger enforcement and physical improvements to the streetscape, citing near-misses between vehicles and pedestrians at various intersections. Police Chief Mike King reported that there were an unusually high number of minor traffic accidents in February, which prompted a traffic enforcement initiative in March resulting in 199 traffic stops, 47 citations, and 160 written warnings. King reported that traffic accidents appear to have returned to more typical low levels following the enforcement effort.
Market House Plaza Pilot Moves Forward
Public safety concerns also shaped discussion of a proposal to create a pedestrian plaza around the historic Market House on King Street. Council member Linus Bicker presented a proposal for a pilot project to run from September through December. The pilot project is estimated to cost approximately $15,000 and calls for temporarily closing the lanes of King Street on both sides of the Market House using planters as bollards, with the goal of improving pedestrian safety and creating a flexible community gathering space. The proposal drew both support and opposition from residents who spoke during public comment, with concerns raised about delivery truck access and the need to fully account for the historic character of the Market House in any design. Mayor Gatz emphasized the importance of meaningful community input and professional planning expertise in carrying the project forward.
The Public Works Committee had voted in March to recommend the general approach to the project, contingent on a public workshop by the end of May. At yesterday’s meeting, the Town Council unanimously approved moving forward with the 90-day preparation timeline, which includes a community workshop, a traffic study, and consultation with the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC). The HLC consultation was added to the timeline at Wednesday's meeting. Mayor Gatz noted that he already has a bid in hand — with a cost of $35,000 — for a traffic study of the Market House intersection at German and King Streets, and said he considers such a study necessary regardless of how the plaza proposal ultimately proceeds.
Annexation Hearing on Deck for April 21
The potential annexation of the Shipley-Young parcels — undeveloped land just to the east of the current town boundary — is set to come before Council at a special meeting on April 21. Once the parcels are annexed, the Town expects to work with the property owners to rezone the property under the “planned unit development” (PUD) ordinance prior to any development taking place on the property. The property owners have previously communicated they plan to build a multi-unit senior housing development and the Town is currently redrafting its PUD ordinance partly in anticipation of that project.
Historic Landmarks Commission Updates
The HLC brought two items to Council. First, the Commission recommended replacing the four yellow bollards at 117 West German Street (image below) with alternatives more consistent with U.S. Department of Interior standards — a change the town will be responsible for implementing. Second, the HLC and Historic Shepherdstown announced plans to collaborate on a historic building plaque program, drawing on a Benedum Foundation grant already received by Historic Shepherdstown. The Town Council approved both items.
Community Grants Approved
Council approved the first two awards under the Town's new Shepherdstown Community Grants Program: $1,200 to the Back Alley Garden Tour for banners, and $1,250 to the Roving Peregrine Theatre Company to support an upcoming production, with a similar additional amount to be considered for that organization at the next Town Council meeting. The Community Grants Program offers financial support for projects that strengthen community life and reflect the priorities of the town.
QUICK UPDATES...
Shepherdstown makes a Top 10 List — USA TODAY included Shepherdstown in its 10BEST Readers’ Choice Award for Best Historic Small Town list for 2026. The selection is made by a panel of subject matter experts and USA TODAY 10BEST editors and then voted on by the public. Shannon Thomas, president of the Experience Shepherdstown board, describes Shepherdstown as “a special place that honors history alongside contemporary living,” noting that the town combines an “old soul with a modern spirit.”
“Welcome to Shepherdstown” Banner Contest — [updated link] If you live, work, or go to school in Shepherdstown, the Town invites you to submit proposals for banners that the town can hang along its streets. Artists are encouraged to draw inspiration from Shepherdstown’s historic heritage, arts and culture, community identity, natural environment, and its connection to the Potomac River. Selected artists will receive a $300 honorarium. Details about the contest are on the Shepherdstown.gov website. The deadline for entries is May 10.
Public input needed for transportation planning — The Hagerstown/Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization (HEPMPO) is conducting a survey to get residents’ input on priorities for road improvements, transit routes, sidewalks, traffic, bike paths, maintenance concerns, accessibility and mobility issues. The study area includes all of Jefferson County, along with Berkeley County and Washington County, MD. The survey results will help guide HEPMPO’s Long Range Transportation Plan that sets the regional priorities for highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects The survey (click here to begin) will be open from April 1 through April 30.
New Executive Director For Development Authority — Jefferson County announced it has hired Daryl Cowles to lead the effort to retain, expand, and attract business to Jefferson County. Cowles previously served in the Governor’s Office in both the Justice and Morrisey administrations. Prior to that he served for 14 years in the House of Delegates. As part of the recent reconfiguration of the Jefferson County Development Authority (JCDA) the County Commission created a new Director of Economic Development role within the County’s Engineering, Planning and Zoning Department. As of April 6, Cowles is filling that new role as well as serving as the Executive Director of the JDCA. According to the direction set by the JCDA board last week, Cowles’ first priority will be to update the JCDA strategic plan.
MEETINGS
Apr 14 (Tue, 7 pm): Jefferson County Planning Commission — regular meeting. Location: County Government Building meeting room (393 North Lawrence St, Charles Town — entrance is on the right side of the building). The agenda includes staff presentations and possible action on:
revising the zoning for industrial solar facilities
modifying historic preservation regulations
creating a land use designation for a sports complex
amending the process for issuing zoning determination notices
The Jefferson County Commission has launched a new YouTube channel. The County plans to livestream all of its public meetings on this platform.
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Highlights of upcoming events around Jefferson County:
Live Theater: Stupid f#%king Bird — Stage production of Aaron Posner’s contemporary adaptation of Chekhov’s The Seagull. Marinoff Theater, 62 West Campus Dr, Shepherdstown. Thursday, April 9–Sunday, April 12, times vary. $ Tickets & Info…
Northern Shenandoah Valley Quilt Show — Regional quilt show featuring exhibits and vendors. Clarke County Parks & Recreation, 279 Al Smith Circle, Berryville, VA. Friday, April 10–Sunday, April 12. $ Tickets & Info…
Spaghetti Dinner — Community dinner featuring spaghetti and sides. New Street United Methodist Church, 202 West New St, Shepherdstown. Friday, April 10, 5 - 7 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Spring Choral Concert — Performance featuring Shepherd University choral ensembles presenting a selection of vocal works. Frank Arts Center, 260 University Dr, Shepherdstown. Friday, April 10, 7:30 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Rabies Clinic by the Animal Welfare Society — Low-cost drive-through rabies vaccination clinic for pets. Moose Lodge Pavilion, Ranson. Saturday, April 11, 8 - 10 am. $ Tickets & Info…
The Big Flea — Outdoor flea market featuring vendors selling antiques, collectibles, and household goods. Berryville Main Street, 23 East Main St, Berryville, VA. Saturday, April 11, 8 am - 3 pm. Free. Info…
Middleway Cleanup Day — Community volunteer event to clean public spaces in Middleway. Visibility vests and tools provided. 112 East St, Middleway. Saturday, April 11, 9 - 11 am. Free. Info…
Bluebird Builders — Youth workshop where participants build birdhouses to take home. Shepherdstown Public Library, 145 Higbee Ln, Shepherdstown. Saturday, April 11, 11 am - 12:30 pm. Kids ages 6–10 with adult supervision. Free. Info…
The Art of Classical Guitar — Program featuring discussion and demonstration of classical guitar music. Shepherdstown Public Library, 145 Higbee Ln, Shepherdstown. Saturday, April 11, 1 pm. Free. Info…
The Taming of the Shrew — Live theater production of Shakespeare’s comedy presented by the Rustic Mechanicals. Black Box Theater, 113 South Princess St, Shepherdstown. Saturday, April 11, 2 pm and 7:30 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Beethoven's Fifth & the Music of Star Wars — Concert featuring classical and film music performed by the Main Street Chamber Orchestra. Johnson-Williams Middle School, 200 Swan Ave, Berryville, VA. Saturday, April 11, 4 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Musical Showcase for Scholarships — Performance featuring student musicians supporting scholarship fundraising efforts. Frank Center, 260 University Dr, Shepherdstown. Saturday, April 11, 6 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Colonial Loyalists of Revolutionary America — Historical lecture on Loyalists during the American Revolution presented by historian Ben Bankhurst and sponsored by the Jefferson County Historical Society. Old Opera House, 204 North George St, Charles Town. Sunday, April 12, 2 pm. Free. Info…
Story Artist: Archy Jamjun — Storytelling performance presented as part of the Speak Story Series. Byrd Center Auditorium, 213 North King St, Shepherdstown. Tuesday, April 14, 7:30 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Farmer Workshop: Nutrients and Soil Health — Educational workshop on soil nutrient management for farmers. Shepherd University Farm, 482 Billmyer Rd, Shepherdstown. Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 - 7 pm. Pre-registration required. Free. Info…
The Feather Wars and the Great Crusade to Save America’s Birds — Educational talk exploring conservation history and bird protection efforts. National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown. Thursday, April 16, 7 pm. Free. Info…
On Stage: A Doll's House — Stage production of Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama presented by Town Run Theater Company. Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 West German St, Shepherdstown. Thursday, April 16–Sunday, April 19. $ Tickets & Info…
Ongoing
St. Isidore Market — Weekly market featuring local vendors offering produce and handmade goods. St. James Catholic Church, 49 Crosswinds Dr, Charles Town. Thursdays, year-round, 5 - 6:30 pm. Free. Info…
Brunswick Main Street Farmers Market — Weekly farmers market featuring local produce, baked goods, and artisan products. East Potomac St, Brunswick, MD. Fridays, 4 - 7 pm. Free. Info…
Shepherdstown Farmers Market — Weekly farmers market featuring local produce, baked goods, and crafts. Behind the Market House, 100 South King St, Shepherdstown. Sundays, 9 am - 1 pm. Free. Info…
Cumberland Valley Artists — Exhibition showcasing works by local artists from the Cumberland Valley region. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Dr, Hagerstown, MD. Ongoing through Sunday, April 26. Free. Info…
The Shepherdstown Public Library is offering a unique “library quilt” as a raffle prize to celebrate National Library Week. The raffle proceeds will benefit the library’s programming.
The handmade quilt by Pattie Wilmoth will be on display in the lobby until April 20. Raffle tickets are $5 each (purchase by cash or check only). The library is located at 145 Higbee Lane in Shepherdstown. Hours are Monday – Friday 10-6 and Saturday 10-3.
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