PHILIPPI, W.Va. — The Barbour County board of education voted 5-0 Monday evening in favor of a consolidation plan that has the county’s middle schools closing down.

The county will now be closing Belington Middle School, Kasson Middle School, and Philippi Middle School and moving the students to Philip Barbour High School, where there is extra space. The vote also approves the closure of Junior Elementary School and will send students to Belington Elementary School.

Student enrollment in the county has been down 20 years since 2016, which has forced the district to operate with less and less state money each year.

“If our population continues to decline and our student enrollment continues to drop, down the road, we may have to look at other options in Barbour County,” said Richard Daug

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