By Taylor Boyd
The Henry County School Board approved amendments and categorical transfers to its fiscal year 2026-27 budget Thursday, but the action came amid frustration over an $83,122 reduction in the county’s local funding for the school division and the county’s decision to use $532,239 in school-system carryover funds toward its required local contribution.
The dispute stems in part from the state budget passed by the General Assembly earlier this year.
County Administrator Dale Wagoner said the state budget includes $2,152,791 for public education, resulting in an increase of $615,261 in required local matching funds.
To balance the county’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget, Wagoner has said county staff recommended using $532,239 in fiscal year 2024-25 local carryover funds to help meet the increased local requirement for public education.
“In addition, it was suggested that the county delay hiring for several positions and utilize vacancy savings in order to cover the budget gap,” Wagoner has said.
The $532,239 in carryover funds had previously been requested by the school division for the installation of generators at three elementary schools. The board of supervisors denied that reappropriation request March 24, according to Director of Finance Richie Weaver.
The supervisors voted Aug. 25 to use the carryover funds toward the county’s increased required local contribution for public education.
Weaver said the school board originally approved a total budget request of $120,663,759, including $24,968,216 in local funding, on July 14.
The division’s budget was subsequently sent to the board of supervisors for approval.
Following an Aug. 25 public hearing, the supervisors approved a total school budget of $120,580,637, Weaver said.
That resulted in an $83,122 decrease from the school division’s requested local funding, he said.
The funding decision prompted pointed criticism from several school board members Thursday.
Cherie Whitlow, of the Collinsville District, said it was shocking that Henry County schools were among the top nine divisions in the state showing growth while receiving a decrease in funding.
“It looks like our staff is putting forward a lot of effort and the students are putting forward a lot of effort, and we’re getting less money,” she said.
Whitlow said the cost of operating the school division has increased.
She noted that anyone who exists in the world sees that anything the division goes to do as far as food, fuel and improvements have increased in cost.
“Yet our funding’s not, so at some point we’re not going to be able to meet in the middle and make it work,” Whitlow said.
Sherry Vestal, of the Blackberry District, questioned whether supervisors had been given the budget information in a way that adequately showed the school division’s financial needs.
“Have they been presented it” in a way to show “that they ought to be embarrassed?” she asked.
Superintendent Amy Blake-Lewis said she believed supervisors were aware of the information but had not been presented with it in the same format.
“I do believe they are aware, but not presented in a table in that format per se, but I do believe they are aware,” Blake-Lewis said.
“It’s just sad,” Vestal said.
At-large member Jonathan Martin echoed the comment.
Blake-Lewis also referenced remarks she made while addressing the board of supervisors Aug. 25.
“Just imagine what the division could be doing if it had more funding,” she said.
“At this point we are succeeding in spite of your support, not because of your support,” Blake-Lewis said.
Because School Board Chairman Teddy Martin, of the Reed Creek District, attended Thursday’s meeting virtually, Blake-Lewis read comments he had typed regarding the funding issue.
“The board of supervisors do need education on this point. They are looking at a number, not what we are doing with it, and that there is a lot that needs to be resolved around the funding and the question of what is local and what is the state,” Blake-Lewis said while reading Martin’s comments.
Vice Chairman Ben Gravely, of the Iriswood District, said the school board needs to examine state code to determine what constitutes state funding and what constitutes local funding.
To reconcile the school division’s operating budget with the approved funding, the school board approved several categorical transfers, including:
$35,375 from Instruction to Administration, Attendance and Health;
$380,045 from Instruction to Operations/Maintenance;
$264,248 from Instruction to Technology; and
$434,083 from Instruction to Pupil Transportation.
The categorical transfers will be sent to the board of supervisors for approval.
The school board also approved amendments to its operating budget.
In other matters, the board:
Heard from Curtis Millner about the need to address veterans-related activities at school sporting events.
Heard about the ASPIRE Mock Interview Day from Work-Based Learning Specialist Tiffany Coleman.
Awarded a $634,222 bid for metal roof retrofit-recovery work at Axton Elementary School to Allied Roofing Co. Inc. of Kernersville, N.C. The work will be funded through 1% sales tax funds.
Awarded a $158,957.57 bid for resurfacing tennis courts at Bassett High School and Magna Vista High School to Keystone Sports Construction. The work will be funded through the fiscal year 2026-27 operations budget.
Approved the 2026-27 Legislative Program.
Heard the superintendent’s reports.
Heard committee reports.
Heard an update on the whole-grade acceleration policy.
Heard an update on the division’s 2025-26 Standards of Learning data.
Recognized the student who received the Magna Vista High School JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction.
Approved the consent agenda.
