The Patrick County School Board approved its proposed updated fiscal year (FY) 2025–26 budget at its Tuesday, June 17 meeting. The proposal will now be presented to the Board of Supervisors.
Schools Superintendent Jason Wood said the update was needed after the division received a revised calculation tool from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) on June 6.
“In working with our finance office, we also, I think, have a good, compromised budget to send to the Board of Supervisors. I spoke to Mrs. Simms (County Administrator), and I believe I will be getting onto their agenda for their July meeting,” he said.
Under the previous calculation tool, Wood said the local funds approved by the Board of Supervisors amounted to approximately $6.9 million, including Virtual Virginia enrollment.
“In that, we were given a $200,000 reimbursement for SROs, so their total contribution is going to be $6,776,892,” he said.
The new proposal, using the amended calculation and ending the Virtual Virginia contract, is $6,521,679 in local funds. The division would also request $200,000 above the minimum and would not reimburse the county for SROs.
While the school system is currently under contract with Virtual Virginia, Wood said the division is being asked to increase its virtual student enrollment to 400 students.
The division currently serves 180 virtual students from across Virginia, who are assigned to Meadows of Dan Elementary School in PowerSchool.
“The brick-and-mortar students are what we focus on as far as school enrollment, but when you have a virtual program, you have to tie those students in PowerSchool” and assign them to a school. “So, they are just tied to Meadows of Dan in PowerSchool. That does not affect the staffing or anything at Meadows of Dan Elementary School,” he said.
As it has for the past four years, Wood said the division is trying to maintain a strong working relationship with the Board of Supervisors by looking at ways to save funds, operate efficiently, and run a top-tier, forward-thinking school division.
“Which I think we do—and also not be a tax burden on Patrick County,” he said.
Wood said the proposal that will be presented to the county includes the division no longer continuing with Virtual Virginia, which would decrease the division’s revenue by approximately $2.3 million.
“We’re looking at ways to balance that by reducing the insurance contribution from the school board office. We have worked diligently with your help over the last four years. We are no longer in an insurance deficit, and with that compromise we made this spring with the Board of Supervisors, they were able to pay off the rest of their deficit. So that won’t be affecting our renewal rates,” he said.
Since the division is no longer in an insurance deficit, Wood said it can contribute less to health insurance.
“We are reducing a capital expense line to what is just required by the state, and we are able to do that because our citizens voted for the one percent sales tax. That’s helped us catch up on a lot of things that have been neglected over the last several years,” he said.
Wood said the transportation budget will also be reduced to allow for the purchase of only one new bus next year.
“We used our ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds, I think very appropriately. We were able to get our transportation fleet back to where it needs to be. We were able to buy three this year, so we’re very excited that we’re back to a top-of-the-line transportation fleet,” he said.
The division would also eliminate its contribution to Virtual Virginia and its reimbursement to the Board of Supervisors for School Resource Officers (SROs).
Two positions — a school administrator at Patrick County High School (PCHS), and an employee at the school board office — also have not been replaced.
“So, a lot of cost savings equal that amount if we are able to get $200,000 above RLE and RLM. I know when I became superintendent, there was a consultant that worked with both boards, and their suggestion was for us to receive funds above the minimum so that we do not have to watch the variation,” he said.
Wood said he and Katina Hylton, the division’s finance director, recently confirmed that as FY 2025 ends, the division can certify it received the required RLE (Required Local Effort) and RLM (Required Local Match).
Their projections show the school system received just under $10,000 above the minimum requirements.
“So, we are running on a very tight budget. We’re thankful for the support we have, but I think this would definitely show that we are working together—as much as we have been over the past four years—and would really provide us the necessary funds to continue with the security and safety investments we’ve put in,” he said, adding that the panic button badges require an annual subscription to maintain and are key to school safety.
“So, the county truly agreeing to this new working-together relationship would save $55,213, and that allows us to maintain the operational costs we need—on employees, school security, all our buildings—and also, it’s a net savings to the county. So, I think it’s a win-win,” he said.
Although the division is asking for $200,000 above RLE and RLM, Wood said that, by comparison, Floyd County is projected to receive $387,519 above the minimum and Martinsville City is projected to receive $1 million more than the minimum.
“We’re hoping we have that great working relationship with our Board of Supervisors and county moving forward,” Wood said.
If the county doesn’t accept the proposed budget, Wood said the school system would have to re-enter its contract with Virtual Virginia, which would increase the RLE and RLM.
“Which is detrimental to the county’s taxes, so I think this is the best compromise I can present,” he said.
In other matters, the board:
Barbara Spencer, and James “Red” Hayden.
* Recognized retiring employees. Wood said the 14 retirees had a combined 332 years of service. Retirees include Norma Conner, Ramona Haley, Roxanne Slattery, Reva Pierce, James “Red” Hayden, Barbara Spencer, Greg Spencer, Melanie Culler, Trey Cox, Karen Fulcher, Terry Harris, Michele Arnder, Paula Reynolds, and Mark Gammons.
* Approved adult meal price increases for 2025–2026 as presented.
* Approved nominating chairman Amy Walker, of the Mayo River District, for the Blue Ridge Region regional vice-chair position.
* Approved the 2025–2026 Title I, Title II, Title III, and Title IV federal applications.
* Approved authorizing Wood to pay any remaining June invoices.
* Approved adding $32,000 in storm drain construction to the 1 percent sales tax projects.
* Heard an update on ongoing school facility projects.
* Approved the consent calendar.
* Approved the personnel report as amended.
* Approved the recommendation of STC 2024–2025-01.
