By Jessica Dillon
The Henry County School Board discussed several budget adjustments and called a special meeting to consider approving categorical transfers/appropriations to FY 2026 after the Henry County Board of Supervisors approved $1,018,127 less in local funding than the amount originally requested by the school division.
The meeting begins at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, May 18, in the 3rd Floor Boardroom of the Henry County Administration Building, 3300 Kings Mountain Road, Martinsville.
The Board of Supervisors approved a total operating budget of $117,973,744 for the school division.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Boone said the school division had to make reductions to reconcile the difference in local funding. He also noted that Virginia has not yet finalized its state budget.
“The instructional category was a decrease of $818,000. We had to take away the family liaisons that we incorporated into the original budget,” Boone said. “They were going to have one family liaison at each secondary school.”
Boone said the facilities budget also was reduced.
“On construction and for the facilities budget, we originally had $250,000, but again, we can only put towards facilities what’s open in local share. So we had to reduce that down to $50,000,” he said.
Boone said employee raises remained in the budget.
“It still includes the two-and-a-half percent raises that we originally proposed for staff. So for teachers, it was a one-and-a-half percent increase to the pay scale with the step, so equally two-and-a-half percent,” Boone said.
The board also discussed a transfer of $989,921 from the Instruction category to the Operations and Maintenance category for parking lot paving at Laurel Park Middle School.
In other matters, the board approved:
*An additional appropriation to the FY26 School Nutrition budget for the Summer Food Service Program;
*The purchase of Renaissance learning software;
*Adoption of grades K-7 social studies textbooks;
*The SOQ FY26 employee bonus;
*The purchase of Lexia Learning Systems;
*The purchase of technology and software from Clinton Learning.
The board also approved:
*Cundiff Architects Inc., of Roanoke, for a term contract for architectural and engineering roofing design services;
*J.C. Joyce Paving Company Inc., of Patrick Springs, for pavement work at Laurel Park Middle School.
*The board voted to move its July meeting from Thursday, July 16, to Tuesday, July 14.
*The board also recognized the Magna Vista High School choir and honored 2026 retirees.
