The Patrick County School Board recently confirmed new principals at four of the division’s elementary schools, effective July 1.
Annie Baker, the principal of Patrick Springs Primary School, will become the new principal of Stuart Elementary School. She will take over for current principal Sandra Clement, who will retire after 32 years as an educator.
Blue Ridge Elementary School’s principal Jennifer Cox requested a transfer to the position of assistant principal at Stuart Elementary. Marcie Murphy will serve as the new principal of Blue Ridge Elementary. She joins the school with nine years of administrative experience and many years of experience in special education and reading instruction.
Stuart Elementary’s assistant principal, Dr. Michelle Adams, will move into Baker’s position of principal of Patrick Springs Primary.
Jacinda Clifton, an assistant principal at Stokes County Schools, will join the division as the principal of Meadows of Dan Elementary School. She will replace current principal Amy Nester, who is pursuing other opportunities closer to her family and home.
Patrick County Schools Superintendent Jason Wood also discussed the division’s budget.
The division is still waiting on the final calculation tool to determine the locality’s required local match in the current fiscal year. “This is a rare occasion where they actually do have some amendments proposed to the governor’s budget,” he said.
The amendments could change the remaining appropriation needed from the locality.
Wood said he talked to the finance office of the Virginia Department of Education (DOE) about potentially reverting the funds appropriated back to the county. “That is not the information we are receiving from the Department of Ed, because in their own words, it’s mathematically impossible to have unspent local dollars because we are funded zero dollars above required local match,” he said.
For the 2022-23 budget, the division is also awaiting the state’s calculation tool.
“There’s three proposed budgets, and they vary from $6.5 million for a local match all the way to $6.7 million,” he said.
Wood added attorneys for both local governing boards suggested a retired school finance officer from Roanoke work with both boards to discuss the best solutions moving forward.
In other matters, the board:
*Heard from retired teacher Stephen Henderson, who asked about the division’s hiring practices.
*Approved the personnel report as amended with a 3-2 vote. Walter Scott, of the Smith River District, and Amy Walker, of the Mayo River District, were the dissenting votes.
*Approved entering into a commercial property purchase agreement for property located at 132 Main Street in Stuart, and authorized Wood to sign the contact on behalf of the school division.
*Approved the consent agenda.
*Approved the Carl Perkins spending plan for the 2022-23 academic year.
*Approved the policy updates as presented.
*Approved the updated Patrick County High School handbook.
Amy Walker, of the Mayo River District, attended the meeting virtually via Zoom.