The Henry County School Board went over changes to employee insurance, an update on the projected yearly budget and proposals for school improvements at the March 7 meeting. The board is currently meeting at a new location on the 3rd floor of the Henry County administration building.
Dr. Benjamin Boone, assistant superintendent for operations and administrative services, presented three proposed budgets for the FY25 year. Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposed a state share of $72,670,916 with a local share of $18,276,29. The Virginia Senate proposed a state share of $81,685,946 with a local share of $20,440,928. The Virginia House of Delegates proposed a state share of $77,544,705 with a local share of $18,627,570.
The current FY24 budget has a state share of $70,449,501 with a local share of $19,351,186.
“Both houses are proposing a three percent increase for next year and the year after that,” said Boone. Henry County Public Schools is also proposing a 5% increase in pay to teachers, administration, and bus drivers, contingent upon local funding.
Updates to several school systems and programs also were proposed to the board. Michael Minter, Jr., director of career and technical education and career academy, proposed an allotment of $117,631 for FY25 for Go TEC equipment. The approved GO TEC updates will allow students at Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School to participate in career training modules. “This will complete our two labs at our two middle schools,” said Minter. Career training departments will benefit from this budget.
The RobotLAB and Amtek – Virtual Welding Unit will both receive additional funding. Part of the funding will also benefit equipment for the Health Care Lab, Precision Machining, and Mechanical Engineering.
Bassett High School and Magna Vista High School also will receive various GO TECH upgrades to their classrooms.
Elizabeth Fulcher, director of technology and innovation, presented an action agenda to purchase interactive boards for the classroom, which was approved by the board. $78,000 has already been spent out of the Y24 technology budget towards replacements and repairs of interactive boards. The board approved the purchase of additional technology with a budget of $154,000 for FY24. The boards allow teachers to have a more interactive approach to teaching in classrooms.
Fulcher presented another action agenda for purchasing new Apple Technology. That too was unanimously approved and will give students in grades first, fifth, and ninth new iPads, along with cases for protection. Students in ninth grade will be provided keyboard cases to give the iPads a similar feel to laptops. Additionally, a protection plan will be provided that covers one repair.
High school teachers also will receive new iPads, while middle school teachers will be presented with new MacBooks.
“Instructional apps will be used to enhance instruction. Most, if not all, textbooks will be available on iPads,” she said. These devices will all come with Jamf MDM protection. With the addition of a budget for additional accessories, these changes have an estimated cost of just under $1 million to be purchased in FY24 and FY25.
Keith Scott, director of facilities maintenance, read a proposal for Bassett High School Phase 7 updates. This update was approved by the board and will cost $4,542,000 of the FY24 budget with a one percent sales tax. Blair Construction Company of Gretna, Virginia, will be updating the HVAC and water chillers. The lighting and ceiling of the school’s lobby, front office, and locker rooms will also receive an upgrade. The upgrades will start in May 2024 with a goal of completing before the start of the next school year.
“This will complete our original plan for renovations to this facility,” said Scott, who also read a proposal for an update to the roof of Laurel Park Middle School for $144,900, to be paid with proceeds from the 1-percent sales tax. Cornett & Cundiff, Inc. of Roanoke, Virginia, will carry out this repair.
Scott also proposed new playground equipment that would increase the safety of students with disabilities and cost an estimated $1 million. Playground Specialists Inc., from Thurmont, Maryland, will provide the equipment with a total cost not to exceed $1,200,000 to continue improvements to all elementary schools.
“We’ve already approved some playground equipment, so we want to continue this process so that by the end of 2024, carrying into maybe early spring, that we have a lot of nice equipment for all students in elementary,” said Scott.
This was also approved by the board. A final budget for this change will be presented later in the year.
Dr. Amy Blake-Lewis proposed a change to employees’ insurance policies, with a 10 percent reduction in the cost of employees’ premiums. This would help with insuring spouses and children of employees.
Blake-Lewis said the division will provide polarized sunglasses to students and faculty for the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8. The maximum eclipse will happen at 2:17 p.m., close to the dismissal window for students. She also said the division would move forward with a $200 monthly stipend for the teacher of record of reading and math. This will not cover teachers who tutor during contracted hours. A $1,000 retention bonus for employees who have an appointment letter, are full-time, or are under contract, also was announced, and will be paid out on March 21.
In other matters, the board:
Presented awards to students participating in All District Swim, Track, All District Wrestling, Basketball all district, Bassett Indoor Track Team for All Region, Bassett Scholastic Bowl All Region, and Beta Convention participants.
Recognized Tameia Easley as the Kindness Ambassador.
Recognized March as Women’s History Month.
Recognized March as Mental Health Awareness Month.
Approved the consent agenda.
Heard the Superintendent’s report
