CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Board of Education members fully returned the Hampshire County school system to local control at a meeting Wednesday afternoon.

"You'll be proud of us," said an emotional Bernie Hott, president of the Hampshire County school board. "I assure you that."

In January 2006, state board members seized control of Hampshire County. Sixteen months later, Hampshire leaders regained partial control after they corrected many of the previous problems.

In March, state education auditors returned to Hampshire County and found that school officials issued purchase orders in a timely manner. Also, school audits appeared to be performed correctly.

Auditors also found that Hampshire school officials have largely followed state hiring practices for professional employees, like teachers, and service workers.

"Overall we found that things were in order in Hampshire County," said Kenna Seal, director of the state Office of Education Performance Audits.

In 2005, state school board members declared a state of emergency and gave Hampshire school officials seven months to fix widespread personnel and financial problems.

At the time, auditors found that top Hampshire school administrators hired employees illegally and misspent grants solicited by former House of Delegates Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta, who worked as a community specialist for Hampshire schools until he was fired in April 2005 amid state investigations.

In the week preceding the January 2006 state takeover, Hampshire superintendent David Friend resigned. He had not reported to work for 15 months before that, citing health problems.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Board of Education members fully returned the Hampshire County school system to local control at a meeting Wednesday afternoon.

"You'll be proud of us," said an emotional Bernie Hott, president of the Hampshire County school board. "I assure you that."

In January 2006, state board members seized control of Hampshire County. Sixteen months later, Hampshire leaders regained partial control after they corrected many of the previous problems.

In March, state education auditors returned to Hampshire County and found that school officials issued purchase orders in a timely manner. Also, school audits appeared to be performed correctly.

Auditors also found that Hampshire school officials have largely followed state hiring practices for professional employees, like teachers, and service workers.

"Overall we found that things were in order in Hampshire County," said Kenna Seal, director of the state Office of Education Performance Audits.

In 2005, state school board members declared a state of emergency and gave Hampshire school officials seven months to fix widespread personnel and financial problems.

At the time, auditors found that top Hampshire school administrators hired employees illegally and misspent grants solicited by former House of Delegates Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta, who worked as a community specialist for Hampshire schools until he was fired in April 2005 amid state investigations.

In the week preceding the January 2006 state takeover, Hampshire superintendent David Friend resigned. He had not reported to work for 15 months before that, citing health problems.

Also Wednesday, Julian Martin with the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy argued that a school program affiliated with the West Virginia Coal Association is "public relations propaganda and not education."

Martin joined with Janice Nease and Lorelei Scarboro of Coal River Mountain Watch, who asked state Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine if others could balance out the message of the Coal Education Development and Resource of South West Virginia [CEDAR] program.

School children should "learn about coal, but not just one side," Martin said.

Paine said he needs to research the CEDAR program further.

Georgene Robertson, president of CEDAR of Southern West Virginia, said teachers apply for a grant from the nonprofit group to incorporate coal into science, art, social studies and other classes. Her group offers the program in Mingo, Logan, Boone, Wyoming and McDowell counties, she said.

"We have a lot of bright students. They just don't have an outlet to display their talent," Robertson said. "It's not something we force on any teacher.

"We're just trying to rebut some of the negative stuff in the media [about coal]," she said.

Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1254.