Brooke County Schools will be under new leadership at the start of the next school year.

After 38 years in the school system, Superintendent Mary K. DeGarmo has announced her retirement.

DeGarmo's last day will be at the end of the fiscal year on June 28 and she said the move is bittersweet for her.

She said, looking forward, there will be several challenges for the next superintendent. Among them is presenting a 10-year facility plan to the community and keeping the budget balanced.

"It's always a concern. We are losing some tax collections next year. We're starting in the budget process right now, taking a look at how we can absorb the loss," DeGarmo said.

Three other Brooke County administrators will also leave that same day: Board of Education president William Harvey; board member Richard Pannett; and Michael Ferrell, of the Title 1 federal program.

Harvey said the board of education expects to start advertising for the superintendent position on March 15 and they will be looking in and out of the state.

After about three weeks, he said the board should be ready to conduct interviews. The new superintendent is scheduled to start July 1.

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