The state Supreme Court has agreed to halt a circuit court order about West Virginia’s charter schools system while the case is reviewed.

A majority of justices granted a motion to stay. The order notes that Justice William Wooton would have refused the stay.

Justices are reviewing a permanent injunction order by Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey about how charter schools are established in West Virginia. The circuit judge had also issued a 60-day stay of her own order in case of appeal.

The plaintiffs in the original legal challenge contended that the state’s Professional Charter Schools Board created charter schools without the constitutionally required voter consent.

The court challenge was based on a section of the state Constitution that says “no independent free school district, or organization shall hereafter be created, except with the consent of the school district or districts out of which the same is to be created, expressed by a majority of the voters voting on the question.”

Judge Bailey’s order was to halt the authorization of new charter schools in West Virginia without voter consent. But it provides some latitude.

First, the judge enjoined the West Virginia Professional Charter Schools Board from authorizing any new schools without the consent of affected county voters. But this first step would not affect the operations of the eight charter schools already approved by the state oversight board, avoiding disruption to current students, families and educators.

Second, the order provides time for the Legislature and governor to respond by having special elections to get the consent of voters with charter schools proposed for their communities. The annual 60-day legislative session is underway, and so far there has been no movement on anything like that.

Third, if the Legislature and governor don’t act, then the judge would consider yet another permanent injunction to enjoin the West Virginia Professional Charter Schools Board from permitting continued operations of the eight charter schools already authorized without voter consent.

Lawyers for the state’s Professional Charter Schools Board, appointees of the governor who oversee the system, appealed and said the circuit court ruling risks the goals of the schools to improve student learning, promote higher student achievement and expand parents’ choice.

The Supreme Court has laid out a scheduling order with written briefs from both sides due late this winter and into the coming spring. After that, the appeals court would take steps to decide the issues in the case.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Highway officials have taken the next steps necessary to replace a bridge deck for one of West Virginia’s busiest spans.

Charleston’s Fort Hill Bridge was the topic of discussion Wednesday as West Virginia Division of Highways engineers met with officials from the Federal Highway Association and city leaders from Charleston and South Charleston, according to a news release from the DOH.

The news release accompanies the launch of a public website which provides a timeline for the project:

FEBRUARY 2026

The DOH plan to meet with first responders, elected officials and business owners to gather input on the project.

MARCH 2026

The deck replacement is expected to be advertised.

JUNE 2026

Bids for the project will be accepted.

AUGUST 2026

Contractors will build median crossovers that will be used by traffic during the deck replacement.

DECEMBER 2026 – JANUARY 2027

Work will be suspended for the holiday season.

JANUARY 2027 – DECEMBER 2027

Interstate 64 will be reduced to two lanes east and westbound. The deck replacement is expected to be complete on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

MAY 2028

Crossovers will be removed and other minor work will be completed.

Contractors are expected to work 20 hours shifts six days per week until the project is complete. The DOH noted contractors will be offered financial incentives to finish early.

The 50-year-old span was under construction last year as contractors patched potholes and put down an impermeable membrane to prevent water from reaching the concrete deck.

The bridge carries roughly 100,000 vehicles per day across the Kanawha River in West Virginia’s capital city.