Lincoln County is where the equitable school finance case in West Virginia began. The decision that followed (Recht Decision), said that the state had to provide equal educational opportunities for all students, no matter where they lived. The State Department of Education's remedy was simply to close those Lincoln County schools and bus students long distances away from their communities.

Several of the elementary schools closed, but communities fought to stop the consolidation of the county high schools. In June 2000, following a state audit, the State Board of Education declared a state of emergency in the Lincoln County schools and took over the system. They sent their Superintendent into the county and immediately began the process of the consolidating the schools.

The Lincoln County Board of Education, on behalf of the counties' students, filed a suit to bring an end to the state forcing consolidation in the county. Attorney Michael Carey will argue the case before the Kanawha County Circuit Court on February 23 and 24, 2004.