[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6306116,"mediaKeyId","2442224-92ae81397c6299c9ef58ab9c0f3e06ed","parentId",2442224,"title","Board pauses on capital-improvement requests after cost and scope questions on buses, band room and fleet facility","audioSeconds",2086,"startMs",331000,"endMs",2417000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2442224-92ae81397c6299c9ef58ab9c0f3e06ed&start=331&end=2417","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2442224-92ae81397c6299c9ef58ab9c0f3e06ed/thumbnail_331000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6306116/Virginia/Board-pauses-on-capital-improvement-requests-after-cost-and-scope-questions-on-buses-band-room-and-fleet-facility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306116-9a1cb701f872f6458ac9393fae709d61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137013&Signature=RtCvJE~8nIx6fg5BgD8oN8vXgcjT4mB~pZWnf4gB9rcLsSSTTOaud3NxsthzB3BHbDBE6pSi1NGFjqB-QD2dWKiiCkbTn2-tHk1FzZx6qrYve9sn~0VWk7wMtbGYF7yfaksgq-Foaj78U6QiPFPJz1tncscjqClieseAGdo7y91u1gWsBS3pI7f31mk-aO4xYiyiEjhhld1Vey6T0qZ1yR3mAgpfR~PTVn1KwdwzzUGG4cMJF1HsRARVPBSVyztwnxXpYA4~ik5CrpAM8Z-QpRLGbZJ75HMUzXVsFCtsHnccwxQDJx8ZuyvgXBJ8po7utYf9UFXEh-ajUD~SkZYLzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Isle of Wight County Schools","date","2025-02-27T00:00:00Z","article","During the Feb. 27 work session, Isle of Wight County School Board members reviewed the division's capital improvement priorities and asked staff for more detailed scopes and updated cost estimates before sending requests to the Board of Supervisors.

The list under discussion included a proposed renovation of an unused boiler room at Smithfield High School into an expanded band room and related special-education and therapy spaces; a multi-option replacement for the fleet service building and bus garage; replacement funding for five school buses in the current year; purchase and rollout of weapons-detection units at middle schools; and replacement ADA-compliant bleachers.

Smithfield High School band room: Staff presented a concept to convert an unused boiler room into an enlarged, acoustically improved band room with additional classroom and therapy space. An earlier feasibility quote (about $1.4 million) was discussed but staff cautioned that the estimate was recorded roughly 18 months earlier and would require updated scoping and cost inflation adjustments. Staff said renovating existing enclosed space could be substantially less expensive than building new square footage.

Fleet service building and bus garage: The division shared three options for a new fleet facility: a renovation option (~$775,000), a standalone new building (~$7.5 million) and a joint county-district facility (~$10.5 million). The board discussed a bare-bones 12,500-square-foot design with seven maintenance bays (five heavy-bus bays and two light-fleet bays); staff estimated construction feasibility costs at $350'$450 per square foot and a midpoint estimate around $5.26 million before soft costs, with a total around $6.1 million after design and soft costs. Staff also noted likely site-development costs such as BMP pond construction and a septic/well evaluation for the site, and said architects must refine those assumptions.

School buses: Trustees reiterated that last year's discussions with the Board of Supervisors reduced the county's bus-replacement commitment to five per year in exchange for county capital funding, and members asked for written documentation of that verbal agreement. The board discussed reducing the proposed bus replacements to five rather than six in the current request to align with the prior understanding.

Weapons-detection systems and staffing: Staff proposed purchasing a total of eight detection \"units\" (two pedestals per unit) for two middle schools at a combined equipment cost in the low six figures; staff also cautioned trustees to include secondary screening equipment, stanchions, handheld detectors, instructional signage and the ongoing staffing necessary to operate screening at schools with limited personnel. Board members asked staff to provide a full rollout budget including additional personnel costs.

ADA bleachers and athletic stands: The board discussed replacing the bleacher structure adjacent to Smithfield High's stadium with an aluminum ADA-compliant elevated seating area sized to seat roughly 50'75 spectators with space for 10'15 wheelchair positions. Trustees asked staff to return inspection reports and replacement cost estimates for adjacent home/away bleachers to evaluate whether to coordinate replacement for cost efficiency.

Outcome: A motion to forward the first five CIP items to the Board of Supervisors was moved and seconded during the meeting but later withdrawn by the mover after trustees requested more detailed costs, phasing options, architect drawings and written confirmation of prior commitments from the county. Staff were directed to provide expanded scopes and cost breakdowns for the next meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Budget Work Session 2/27/2025 Isle of Wight County Schools","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees reviewed a proposed list of capital needs Feb. 27 that included a Smithfield High band-room renovation, fleet-service building replacement, five school-bus replacements, weapons-detection equipment and ADA bleachers, but withdrew a motion to forward the items to the Board of Supervisors pending more scope and cost detail.","taxTitle","ISLE OF WIGHT CO PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia","taxId",61488,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6306121,"Isle of Wight school board debates staffing, pay and budget priorities in first work session",10396,114000,10510000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2442224-92ae81397c6299c9ef58ab9c0f3e06ed&start=114&end=10510","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2442224-92ae81397c6299c9ef58ab9c0f3e06ed/thumbnail_114000.jpg","/articles/6306121/Virginia/Isle-of-Wight-school-board-debates-staffing-pay-and-budget-priorities-in-first-work-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306121-3244fbb1c102c1064b73eeaba54e8412/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137013&Signature=ettOLxMxAw~CvgFF~t6uLcHhdR-nZ24OiRR1~GE6f2~mGDw7myQoeKWOSjPcHS6LnP4TDC6fdXGOOHaHmnYxLhma5DfoYev7-nUHu6dpKw910LQLteBTV5tCDjXu6m-e3mL2J9sMk1XXjuTbePeL-8c1oTrvPm4Psu7jdbksESZUaXAjLYYbBtqNbL0vs94VD5T9DYull8iBwvwNBJrNWNpuS86OUgfkbpRzmV~YCFikV2CZpyRCzxbb7foRBi0iP2vOGOS0GtBBVb8zl4zXdKTcLtfnf2K8~Kar2pVsOOZZi4M7pbYlKYffjZihk6rtXGvxCfjnVjtp~a1wrOyvWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Isle of Wight County School Board met Feb. 27 at Westside Elementary School for the first public budget work session on the superintendent's proposed 2025 budget.

Board members highlighted three priorities: staffing requests, pay proposals and preparing a prioritized list of items to take to the Board of Supervisors. The superintendent's proposal includes a 3% across-the-board pay increase for school division employees and a separate set of proposed position changes and additions spread across the division.

Board members and staff framed the session as an information-gathering meeting ahead of the required public hearing on March 6. Members repeatedly asked staff to identify options to repurpose existing allocations or reassign unfilled positions before seeking new funding from the county.

Staff said the current budget request includes 15 new full-time equivalent positions across the division, including interventionists and special education staffing. Human-resources and finance staff described ongoing efforts to reallocate funding when vacancies occur; for example, a prior unfilled special-education teacher allocation was temporarily redirected this year to hire a registered behavior technician while staff continued efforts to fill the teacher vacancy.

Special-education leaders told the board that caseload and federal/regulatory requirements are driving several of the requested positions. They said some additions are necessary to remain in compliance with state and federal regulations given current student needs: staff described an expected kindergarten cohort rolling up from preschool that will require three self-contained classrooms and three teachers to meet current caseload regulations.

Board members and staff discussed the operational constraints that complicate hiring: regional pay differentials, competition with nearby divisions and the health-care sector, and nationwide shortages of teachers and nurses were cited as reasons the division has had difficulty filling certain roles. Several trustees urged staff to prioritize retaining current employees when deciding where to make cuts.

The board also debated a targeted pay proposal for nurses and clinic staff. The superintendent's proposal includes an extra 2% for nurses on top of the 3% across-the-board raise (a total 5% in that plan); one trustee proposed a separate plan that would raise nurses by 10% total. Board members asked staff to model the budgetary impact of both options and to return with a clear comparison showing current salaries, supplements and total cost.

Members asked for documentation of prior understandings with the Board of Supervisors, notably a previously described multi-year agreement to replace school buses at five per year. Board members said that agreement was a verbal understanding last year and requested it be memorialized in writing so both parties have a consistent expectation.

No final decisions were made. The motion to adopt or forward several capital requests to the Board of Supervisors was withdrawn after board members requested additional detail. Staff were directed to return with more detailed cost breakdowns, scope documents, updated staffing-control analyses and comparisons for any pay proposals requested by trustees.","At a Feb. 27 budget work session, the Isle of Wight County School Board reviewed the superintendent's proposed budget, discussed 15 requested staff positions and a 3% across-the-board pay proposal; members pressed staff for options to reallocate funds and for documentation from the Board of Supervisors on a prior buses agreement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6306112,"Board reviews device rotation, Promethean boards and bus-tracking app as part of technology and transportation budget lines",0,7558000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2442224-92ae81397c6299c9ef58ab9c0f3e06ed&start=7558&end=7558","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2442224-92ae81397c6299c9ef58ab9c0f3e06ed/thumbnail_7558000.jpg","/articles/6306112/Virginia/Board-reviews-device-rotation-Promethean-boards-and-bus-tracking-app-as-part-of-technology-and-transportation-budget-lines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306112-e4d9b2c245409e0bb51c5e457139540b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137013&Signature=OvBvT1yXgykcOkmNYJSfb5iduIj-Dw4I5ojJcgcU2hJm2FYmy1odKHtd3zx7w12X~dt3XXqr-fdncvwhuHwb-TPezC5HU9I2GbtsaYTp5rV3Gnv4LZb~i4S2NvsC3Ue7Y9iL2EVzZleuQiwsW4TYhfPlIQzkLRIyfj8s6A3OEl6xf6t5d3pa7Z8ZV4Cdg6Y1nm529lvhH~Xq8OwXFY3-27snoHgLv4~iPKlNbuonn24MRaTCbnHY8dxIi7r8F9cImTlc-TD70AwLoW1bG0akr1P7lHcgMYHGBmuKyMoFIoHQm7IKHcd~KpSpmVTWIZTqUZRmaQ8R0Qzw9f0Gy~oSLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 27 budget work session, trustees reviewed multiple technology and transportation-related requests, including classroom hardware replacement, interactive whiteboards and a bus-tracking system for parents.

Classroom devices and Promethean boards: Staff presented a multi-year replacement plan that would rotate iPad and Chromebook inventories by grade band and add Promethean interactive boards where older projectors need replacement. Staff said consumer/enterprise projectors now approach the cost of a Promethean board once installation and cabling are included, and that interactive boards include built-in educational apps and touch functionality that some teachers use daily. Trustees asked staff to provide evidence of instructional impact and return on investment in classrooms where Promethean boards are already installed so the board could weigh the educational benefits against the cost.

iPad/Chromebook rotation: Staff proposed an annual replacement pool to maintain usable student devices. Trustees asked staff to provide usage metrics, lifespan assumptions and documented comparison of outcomes when devices are classroom-shared versus assigned to individual students.

MyView bus-tracking app and student ridership: The division presented MyView as a parent-facing tracking application with layered access and security controls. Staff described options from a basic zone/visibility tracking service to more advanced ridership modules that use student check-in/out badges. The vendor's security documentation was discussed: staff said the company had signed security paperwork and that family access would require a verified relationship to a student, an invite code and optional geofencing to limit visibility to a home range. Trustees asked staff to confirm how many other divisions use the platform, for how long, and what security certifications the vendor holds before approving subscription and integration costs.

Charter transportation and vehicle parts: Trustees also discussed routine transportation requests such as occasional charter bus costs for long student trips and a recurring line item for vehicle parts and engine replacements. Staff said the division is currently replacing engines in older buses to extend serviceability but warned that repeated engine replacements can become inefficient if a vehicle has reached the end of its usable life. Trustees asked for a durable lifecycle plan for fleet and for clarification on whether engine replacements are short-term patches versus long-term fleet renewal strategy.

Outcome: Board members asked staff to return with deployment and security details for the MyView app, comparative data on where Promethean boards have been effective, device-usage metrics and the fleet's lifecycle plan before moving these items forward in the budget process.","Trustees discussed replacement cycles for iPads and Chromebooks, a plan to install Promethean interactive boards in classrooms, and a proposed MyView bus-tracking system for families; board asked staff for security details, comparative deployments and ROI information before committing funds.","actionData","errors"]

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Board pauses on capital-improvement requests after cost and scope questions on buses, band room and fleet facility

Isle of Wight school board debates staffing, pay and budget priorities in first work session

Board reviews device rotation, Promethean boards and bus-tracking app as part of technology and transportation budget lines