CHAPMANVILLE, W.Va. — The auditorium at Chapmanville Regional High School was packed Thursday evening as Logan County families turned out for three public hearings on the proposed closure of Hugh Dingess Elementary School. Parents, neighbors, and school staff filled the seats to hear what the plan would mean for one of the county's smaller elementary schools — and for the children who call it home.
District leaders laid out where Hugh Dingess students would go if the board ultimately approves a closure. Kindergarten and first-grade students would move to Chapmanville Primary School. Students in second through eighth grade would attend Chapmanville Intermediate School.
Enrollment pressures across the county
Superintendent Sonya White told the crowd that Logan County Schools has lost more than 1,500 students over the past decade — a drop of more than 25%. At Hugh Dingess alone, enrollment is down more than 27%, with about 74 students now learning in a building designed for 339. Across the district, building utilization sits around 50%.
White framed the discussion around student needs and the district's long-term financial footing. She said the work is about the kids, noting she has spent 40 years in education and that the district will try to offer better services while keeping the county financially sound.
Three schools in the conversation
Hugh Dingess is one of three elementary schools facing potential closure in Logan County, alongside Justice Elementary and South Man Elementary. No final decision has been made. Earlier district guidance indicated schools would remain open through the 2026-27 school year while the process continues.
Next up, the board is scheduled to meet Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Logan High School to discuss Justice Elementary. The public hearing for South Man Elementary has been postponed, and a makeup date has not been announced yet.
For Logan County families watching every step of this process, Thursday night was a chance to be heard — and a reminder that the choices ahead will shape classrooms, bus routes, and communities for years to come. West Virginians show up for their schools, and the packed auditorium made that plain.