The Henry County School Board approved a $121 million budget during a special meeting on March 20, securing staff pay raises, new positions, and facility upgrades. The budget will now be presented to the Board of Supervisors.
The spending plan focuses on raising staff salaries, addressing necessary repairs, and adding positions while maintaining level funding from the county.
The school system will hire five new English Language (EL) teachers as part of its response to Henry County’s growing Hispanic population, according to Superintendent Dr. Amy Blake-Lewis.
Additional staffing and compensation priorities include three gifted education teachers, five teacher intern positions, two middle school deans of students (one per school), three special education specialists, additional special education teachers and paraprofessionals based on student needs, three additional middle school teachers based on enrollment numbers, and full-time substitutes for each building, a work-based learning specialist, two school security officers (one per high school), increased stipends for ed/autism paraprofessionals to $2,500 per semester, increased substitute pay and driver compensation for field trips and activities, and salary increases for school employees.
Teachers (steps 1-29) will receive a 2.5% raise, while step 30 will receive a 3% raise—resulting in an average 3.5 percent increase. New teacher salaries will start at $51,356.
Administrators will receive 2 to 2.5 percent per step.
Contracted and full-time bus drivers will get a 3.5 percent increase.
Professional salary scale employees will receive an average 3.5 percent increase, with step 30 employees receiving a $2,500 stipend.
Classified staff will receive a one-step increase and a 3 percent increase across all steps, for an average 3.5 percent raise. Step 30 employees will receive an additional $2,500 stipend.
VALS tutor hourly wages will increase from $15 to $17.50 per hour.
Facility improvements
- $1,450,000 will go toward facility upgrades.
- $1,000,000 will fund a new auto technician class at the Career Academy.
- $450,000 will pay for a new roof at Axton Elementary School.
The total budget of $121,070,332 is allocated as follows:
Instruction: $77,039,635
Administration, attendance, and health: $5,249,196
Pupil transportation: $9,236,079
Operations and maintenance: $10,052,927
Technology: $3,536,384
Debt service and transfers: $3,456,111
Federal and state grant programs: $11,000,000
Contingency reserves: $50,000
Concerns were raised about potential grant cuts due to Department of Education changes, but officials noted that it remains unclear whether funding reductions will occur.
In addition to budget discussions, the board introduced candidates vying for the vacant seat to represent the Horsepasture District after Stephanie Brinegar’s recent resignation.
*Valerie Edwards, a Horsepasture district resident of 34 years, is a retired educator.
“I’m currently serving God in the community. I’m a worshipper, singer, Patriot Player, and I serve on various boards,” Edwards said.
She has worked as a school bus driver, second-grade reading teacher, and kindergarten teacher before becoming an assistant principal for 15 years.
Edwards emphasized collaboration in education, stating, “Education is bigger than the individual classroom or parent-teacher.”
She has a granddaughter at Laurel Park Middle School and has volunteered at Carver Elementary School. She praised the board for cafeteria upgrades, saying, “I believe parents, teachers, and students equal success.”
*Darryl Holland, a Horsepasture native and Drewry Mason High School graduate, has spent 41 years mentoring youth.
“My wife and I don’t have any kids. I’ve just spent 41 years helping raise everybody else’s kids,” Holland said.
He wants to prioritize students and believes the school board’s influence is greater than they realize.
*Steven Edwards, a professor of automotive technology at Danville Community College, wants to bring a business-oriented approach to the board.
“My approach on the school board would be, not so much as an educator with an education background, but with a business background—how the schools operate,” he said.
Edwards believes the board should see schools as a blend of education and business.
“If the schools aren’t flourishing, then the students are going to perish.”
He has raised three children, his wife was a school nurse at Laurel Park, and his daughter teaches at Carver Elementary.
Edwards plans to run for supervisor in 2027 and sees school board experience as a stepping stone. If he is not chosen, he supports Holland for the role.
*Cynthia Anderson, a former teacher and special education coordinator, currently works as the student services coordinator for Carlisle School.
“I am eager to contribute, help develop, and implement policies that have a positive impact on our students and their futures,” Anderson said.
She retired from Henry County Schools and believes serving on the school board will allow her to help students achieve their educational goals.
