A new billboard appearing alongside Rt. 19 near Oak Hill has caused a community stir. The advertisement reads: "Choose Public Education" and highlights perceived attributes of public education, listing Engaged Community, Strong Foundations and Future Leaders on the lower left side.   

Given the continual state news coverage about declining enrollment in West Virginia public schools, as well as a recent Fayette County Board of Education (BOE) meeting where financial reports were disclosed to emphasize the loss of funding, many folks were perplexed to see an expensive ad being run by an organization under financial strain.   

Residents of Fayette County reached out to Beacon News West Virginia to inquire about the financial backer of the billboard campaign.   

We contacted Fayette County Superintendent, David Warvel to ask if the County Board of Education is responsible for the ad and, if so, to share the length of the campaign and total cost. 

Mr. Wavel responded in the affirmative, that the BOE is sponsoring the billboard, stating:  

"The billboard agreement is currently scheduled to run for three months, and the total cost is $3,750. Funding for this initiative comes from resources designated for student wellness, prevention, and educational outreach." -Fayette County School Superintendent David Warvel   

Mr. Wavel said that a portion of the funds used for the billboard are from "the JUUL settlement to support student education and prevention efforts related to vaping and nicotine use. These funds are intended to help school systems address the impact of youth vaping through awareness campaigns, prevention programming, and student education initiatives."  

The Fayette County BOE received a settlement from JUUL labs in the amount of $91,775.00 in 2023: