A rapid leadership shift unfolded this weekend in Randolph County Schools, beginning with a special Board of Education meeting on Friday and culminating in Saturday’s emergency session, where Superintendent Dr. Shawn Dilly resigned, and a former superintendent was named to temporarily take his place.
The Randolph County Board of Education first convened Friday for a special (emergency) meeting tied to ongoing district issues, before Saturday morning calling an additional special meeting on that evening, March 21; a move that signaled urgent action was needed. The district had posted on the Randolph County Schools’ Facebook page a notice of an “emergency meeting” for March 21 in accordance with state law, which requires advance notice even for unscheduled sessions. The agenda states the purpose of the Saturday meeting is to “address circumstances that require immediate action by the Board, specifically the appointment of an Interim Superintendent to fill the office of the superintendent who resigned March 20, 2026, so as to avoid imminent substantial harm to the board, its students, its employees, and to ensure continuity of leadership and operations within the Randolph County school system”.
Unlike regular Board of Education meetings, which in Randolph County are typically held on a set monthly schedule, special or emergency meetings are called outside that schedule. Under West Virginia’s Open Governmental Proceedings Act, these meetings can occur when:
- Immediate personnel decisions are required
- Time-sensitive issues arise
- Emergencies or urgent governance matters demand action
They must still be publicly announced, but discussion is generally limited to the specific items listed on the agenda, with no public comments. In this case, it was a major leadership change.
Superintendent Dr. Shawn Dilly resigned after nearly two years leading Randolph County Schools following a special Board of Education meeting Friday night. The meeting had been scheduled to discuss and potentially take action regarding Dilly’s conduct, duties, and contract. After convening, board members entered an executive session that lasted approximately an hour and a half. Upon returning to open session, board members stated that no decisions were made during the closed-door discussion, but then announced they had unanimously accepted Dilly’s resignation in a 5–0 vote. The meeting adjourned shortly afterward, with both board members and Dilly leaving without making any official statements to the media.
Following Dilly’s resignation, the board voted the next day, March 21, to appoint Terry George as interim superintendent, meaning the position is temporary while the county determines a long-term replacement. George has been hired through June 30th at “the same salary and benefits and other terms and conditions as provided to the former superintendent and to be set forth in a written contract between the parties”, the agenda goes on to state.
George is a familiar figure in Randolph County Schools. He previously served as superintendent, giving him direct experience with the district’s operations. Terry George served as the superintendent of Randolph County Schools in West Virginia from January 2013 through June 2015. Before becoming superintendent, he worked in the district as an assistant superintendent and principal, leaving the superintendent role to lead Fayette County Schools. His appointment suggests the board prioritized stability and familiarity in a moment of uncertainty.
The leadership change comes amid continuing financial strain within the school system. In 2025, Randolph County Schools faced a projected multi-million-dollar deficit and was placed under a state of emergency by the West Virginia Department of Education (which was recently extended to June of this year), prompting discussions of consolidation and restructuring.
Dilly had presented multiple reconfiguration plans, including other potential school closures, as the district worked to address those financial issues.
