[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6279053,"mediaKeyId","2626204-b5ec1af2e45414fadfc8bf58da784312","parentId",2626204,"title","High school construction nears completion on major elements; auditorium, cafeteria and field-house work proceeding","audioSeconds",237,"startMs",6801000,"endMs",7038000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2626204-b5ec1af2e45414fadfc8bf58da784312&start=6801&end=7038","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2626204-b5ec1af2e45414fadfc8bf58da784312/thumbnail_6801000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6279053/Virginia/High-school-construction-nears-completion-on-major-elements-auditorium-cafeteria-and-field-house-work-proceeding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279053-7a736513dc1af4d8a58a801ff7fbab6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770937072&Signature=SzIvhfOtyOTKGTCe5IKpn-jvmEuS7NqX1QSZTCUsr7vHppoOf7WT8EOEA~epHTM4iccAtHHYGOVJQxigiWsDt0BoZnAvAG8ujGlldP4E7KBbz-wVruLH3kdHxix09bPq0E0qAVr1KM2-yITc3Sj5QG-V2wMZhKO3qcv5aU2r35CmOfi~h4NfFRzEoTJAmwaNtyqwFcG0nIhWbo-gcmZaruofGfjbEDJiYCpv0d5JrbmnlYFUqFt7w0LPdHvkQYSBZQ9cwF4licnl3JIcWYmnfNcb-1yuvmjxsc0Ah7fEKK8a-MtAsZSHN2SYeuYHm6A3F~WiWJ1busyP4fw7o1qFLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-14T08:05:15Z","article","District facilities staff reported detailed construction progress for the Amherst County High School addition at the March 11 meeting, showing recent drone photos and listing key upcoming milestones.

Facilities representative Mister Roakes (identified in the meeting as the construction lead) said most of the exterior glass is installed on the front of the addition, interior ceiling and lighting work is progressing, and the cafeteria atrium glass is scheduled for installation next week. He noted the new cafeteria serving lines and kitchen upgrades scheduled for summer work.

Auditorium and field-house work
Roakes said crews had installed luxury vinyl tile on the auditorium flat area and that bleacher-style, retractable seating installation would begin the following Monday. Dressing rooms and stage rigging work were substantially underway; can lights and ceiling tiles are in place in the auditorium shell.

At the athletic complex, the field-house water line and fiber trench had been installed and contractors were preparing an access road and site drainage. Roakes said locker rooms and concession drywall were up and that field-house finishes and utilities would be tied in during the coming weeks.

Why it matters
The update described work that affects the district’s event, athletics and food-service capacity. Facilities staff said phase sequencing is intended to keep classroom and activity disruptions to a minimum and that some work will occur on quiet weekends or school breaks.

Next steps
Key near-term tasks include auditorium seating installation, connection and testing of stage and auditorium systems, completion of cafeteria kitchen work over the summer, and continued site work for the new parking/field-house access. Facilities staff said they will coordinate remaining construction activities with school schedules and report dates when areas open for public use.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ACPS Special School Board Meeting - Thursday, March 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The district’s new high school addition showed major progress: exterior glass installed in parts of the building, cafeteria and atrium glazing pending, auditorium seating and flooring being installed, and field-house utility and site work advancing, a facilities update reported.","taxTitle","AMHERST CO PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia","taxId",46593,"location","Virginia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6279057,"Leadership Lynchburg presents teacher survey to Amherst County schools; teachers cite time, staffing, compensation and support as top needs",515,3623000,4138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2626204-b5ec1af2e45414fadfc8bf58da784312&start=3623&end=4138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2626204-b5ec1af2e45414fadfc8bf58da784312/thumbnail_3623000.jpg","/articles/6279057/Virginia/Leadership-Lynchburg-presents-teacher-survey-to-Amherst-County-schools-teachers-cite-time-staffing-compensation-and-support-as-top-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279057-43137f874fffa72301c62ae61fe32bf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770937072&Signature=oBARZENnNbiF9Gl3pocXOCFBNFZIJ~nQ0RzPv4Psj9QgAjwlB2m2sa8AjRUvwy~CkrHZg30hRghjjIyMxPVt-I9xt4TwLY-PDJFCY1XD~EmjcvAt8hTB~v8YVNPvco1GFwCxsH2x9gEhDu54cd6X9R9HtH0U5jSwKuh7JMf3X6pBATq5PsIOk1XMe9N6eHhGMD6dlkj1HWBxiaWWEQils2RnnizLTfFeF9qfYb-P7R-EBY8LJewIT8O3vanW34i6G2yoUuJlqfsNm3kxGqcPxumz58tGXrlq7pa2FenjiCYI2YvKHk0jtVmxurT6w28hBCye-zNw9qjWhk~Wl~d0DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A group from Leadership Lynchburg presented results of an anonymized survey of Amherst County teachers and staff at the March 11 school-board meeting, saying the project aimed to give teachers a confidential way to share priorities with district leaders.

Katie Mayo, representing the Leadership Lynchburg education team, told the board the first survey earned 123 responses and that a follow-up poll yielded about 57 replies; the group scrubbed the data to remove identifying comments and agreed to share raw results with district staff.

Key findings
Survey respondents identified the top five desired changes as more time, higher compensation, more staff, more administrative support and more resources. When asked about the biggest obstacles to their work, respondents listed lack of time most frequently, followed by behavior and discipline concerns, lack of support, and parental engagement. On resource awareness, respondents were split: roughly half said they were aware of paid and free resources available, while the other half said they were not.

Mayo said Leadership Lynchburg had initially planned to build a resource web page, but stopped because the Virginia Department of Education already offers thousands of links. Instead, the volunteers narrowed the scope to giving teachers a confidential channel to voice priorities and to help the district identify where to focus supports. The group also plans a teacher-supplies drive after teachers listed needed classroom supplies (for example, whiteboard markers) on the survey.

Board reaction and follow-up
Board members thanked the team for outreach. Several members suggested the district use the survey as a basis for focused follow-up — including targeted focus groups and deeper, school‑level listening sessions — and for reconciling teacher priorities with budget decisions. The Leadership Lynchburg team said it would continue to partner with Dr. Wells and the district to host focus groups and to help with outreach.

Why it matters
The survey gives the district additional, citizen-led input on teacher priorities at a moment when the board has been discussing recruiting and retention and when the approved budget preserves several instructional positions and intervention supports.","A Leadership Lynchburg group presented results of a teacher survey to the Amherst County School Board, reporting 123 responses to an initial survey and 57 to a follow-up; teachers identified more time, more staff, and better compensation/support as priority needs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6279062,"School board splits on VSBA membership; asks administration to study alternatives and attorney costs",0,5830000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2626204-b5ec1af2e45414fadfc8bf58da784312&start=5830&end=5830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2626204-b5ec1af2e45414fadfc8bf58da784312/thumbnail_5830000.jpg","/articles/6279062/Virginia/School-board-splits-on-VSBA-membership-asks-administration-to-study-alternatives-and-attorney-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279062-a1f9552ae71244a9b6f2c4ff3806d026/orig.mp4?Expires=1770937072&Signature=m5D4pQ24B7GCOl2rtKGxJBEmmYinQo7u--KIQw~x7kT73zp83Ufm8YaG4G~upA9C4U-WIYwgHj5-oYlb7LV~snuCClZnecK6wQMOuYR-IIiK6xSONRQx5viP9b6IAEICIM0SxrFTR3GPwwrOarkhKzVsJ5VbfWV7shDbRyRKKPoXicucyeyyek7hMvpcIQde01qVwGBZ6~7p7dgWfkQTtc6xWtsgaZTLs4rf-6XD2vXjDVk~mzL5trUgrRuNTnCX-nMpoV2alkiu4IA-ykGmg2k-Ve5SaUcYhS7PVhZk8E4iHh5p0c5yIu7dFjPzcuCOd4btDkwYQNo3QGSrH~QMRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Amherst County School Board on March 11 debated whether to maintain its Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) membership. After extended discussion and public comment, a motion to abandon VSBA membership immediately was defeated, but the board voted to direct administration to research alternatives and to report back with recommendations.

Board member Mister Terry moved to discontinue the district’s VSBA membership; several board members urged caution and said the administration should present alternatives first. Mrs. Justice, Ms. Thompson and others said they wanted due diligence — not a sudden withdrawal — and asked staff to identify comparable policy and legislative services and to analyze savings and service tradeoffs.

Outcome and next steps
A direct motion to remove the VSBA membership line from next year’s budget did not carry. The board then approved a motion directing the superintendent and staff to research alternatives to VSBA and bring recommendations to the May board meeting. The board also separately approved a motion directing administration to study attorney-fee options and cost-saving avenues for legal representation and to report back.

Why it matters: VSBA provides policy templates, legislative information and training to local school boards; membership cost is a recurring line in the district budget. Board members framed the discussion as a fiscal-review item — several noted the $16,000 annual VSBA fee and the potential to redirect funds to instructional support — while others said VSBA meetings had served as professional development for some board members.

Board discussion and public input
Board members who supported immediate withdrawal said district staff and other vendors might provide the needed services at lower cost and that the district should evaluate alternatives now. Board members urging caution pointed to the need for a transition plan and said VSBA provides legislative updates and policy review services that the district currently relies on. A member of the public urged the board not to cut supports that directly benefit students.

What the board asked staff to do
- Produce a comparison of VSBA services and costs versus alternatives, including potential savings and any loss of services such as policy review and legislative monitoring.
- Identify the VSBA contract renewal date and timeline for transition if the board chooses to discontinue membership.
- Research options for attorney-fee savings, including competitive bidding or renegotiation of current agreements.

No policy change will take effect before the administration brings options back to the board; the board set a May deadline for staff recommendations.","Board members debated whether to keep membership in the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA). A motion to drop VSBA from next year’s budget failed; the board then directed the superintendent to research alternative policy services and to explore options to reduce attorney costs.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6279066,"Amherst County school board approves 2025–26 operating budget; board and staff stress summer programs, grant funding and monitoring",3962,2652000,6614000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2626204-b5ec1af2e45414fadfc8bf58da784312&start=2652&end=6614","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2626204-b5ec1af2e45414fadfc8bf58da784312/thumbnail_2652000.jpg","/articles/6279066/Virginia/Amherst-County-school-board-approves-202526-operating-budget-board-and-staff-stress-summer-programs-grant-funding-and-monitoring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279066-d2a3e7e5f93401362d62f63a4f37c4d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770937072&Signature=NdYHuUfyj-N7-wn4bxBj8tlqzAB35LdXQs-EDCRVhl0F6KSDX~2LZUe7yLwFLV8V9oe0AK~xFOu2Km0hh5mp0KD0BvamQeTfacjr~YyJB4KkbBgXjRw4~a7HCYkoU2EDJq8pLkpzAnK4DKmGKALeiXcgcXwd2zkAgQBUv4~K6Ht6NO7NJG4SDvuHY~upMTbbJg7RdjPTv77~Zqpd05sH6PuZWd2uqVOz~UgijZltmR8xIPzR-rNCIvSEo4-EONHqqh86s99Lq8geQlyIGXshYqKKxNhxMQFZLf6LPx5wMkM25JsBM0ngMlJxrG-eHABWm4rkQLxO7wAMlWmdwozMnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Amherst County School Board on March 11 approved a 2025–26 operational budget that keeps several staffing additions and relies in part on state grant programs to expand summer learning and literacy supports.

Superintendent Doctor Wells summarized changes and line-item adjustments before the vote, saying the presentation “summarize[d] the discussions of the work session” and listing personnel and program edits that had been made since the work session and a special budget meeting. The board voted to approve the budget as presented; Dr. Wells said he will present it to the Board of Supervisors at a March work session.

The budget presentation listed several personnel adjustments: freezes to stipends as a percentage of pay, striking one CSR instructional assistant but adding a full-time teacher at Madison Heights Elementary, and adding a Best Lab at Elon Elementary while reducing Best Lab staffing at other schools. Staff said an additional position tied to All In Virginia funding was proposed to be moved out of one-time funds into operating to expand summer school access.

Why it matters: the budget mixes operating dollars with targeted grant funding — notably the All In Virginia allocations — to protect instructional positions while planning for expanded summer learning and intervention work. Board members repeatedly asked how funds would be used and whether expected reimbursements would materialize, and staff said the county presentation to supervisors would include updated projections.

All In Virginia, literacy and summer school
Staff explained that the All In Virginia funds support three strands: learning acceleration, the Virginia Literacy Act, and chronic absenteeism work. Dr. Wells and staff said the division used All In Virginia funds to pay for two literacy teachers at the high school working with struggling ninth-graders, one elementary math specialist, a 0.5 reading specialist at Amherst Middle School, and summer-school allocations (about $375,000 for 2025 and $200,000 set aside for 2026). Kim Lukanich, a district staff member who discussed state planning-tool guidance, said shifting one position would “free up the All in Virginia funds so that we can expand the summer school program.”

Student services and Best Labs
Student services director Mister Neighbors reported combined January–February Best Lab usage at the district’s five sites: the program served 102 students across those two months, with more than 3,800 visits aggregated. Neighbors said the youngest learners had the highest usage and that Madison Heights recorded the largest single-site total for the period. He and other staff said they are beginning to cross‑reference Best Lab visitation with attendance, grades and discipline data to assess impact.

Medicaid reimbursement and sustainability questions
Board member questions focused on whether Medicaid reimbursements and other external revenue streams could make some intervention positions self‑sustaining. Mister Nabors explained that the district’s first Medicaid claims for ABA services are in process and that prior claims had often been denied; he said the current claims are “pending” and that staff will evaluate results before treating them as recurring revenue. Dr. Wells told the board he would not assume reimbursement until it is shown consistently in the district’s accounts.

Public comment and questions
Resident Jeff Porter asked the board to name budget items that the board was most pleased with and encouraged public engagement and transparency; Porter later thanked staff (naming Kim Lukanich) for making budget materials available. Porter and other speakers emphasized appreciation for outreach and for special budget meetings that allowed public scrutiny.

Votes at a glance
- Policy JHCF (food sold outside school day): Approved (motion, second; recorded voice vote: ayes). Referenced in the discussion prior to budget approval.
- 2025–26 operational budget: Approved (motion to approve superintendent’s presented budget; motion seconded; voice vote in favor). Dr. Wells will present the approved budget to the Board of Supervisors at their March work session.
- Hearing officers list (addition of two former superintendents): Approved (motion, second; voice vote in favor).
- 2025–26 school calendar (inclement-weather teacher work days noted): Approved (motion, second; voice vote in favor).

What’s next
Staff said they will continue monitoring Medicaid claims, the All In Virginia allocations and Best Lab usage and will present updated figures to the board as reimbursements and other revenues are realized. Dr. Wells will bring the approved budget to the Board of Supervisors for discussion at the supervisors’ March 18 work session.

Ending note: board members thanked staff for the budget work and for targeted additions the board described as likely to protect classroom instruction and intervention time for students.","The Amherst County School Board voted to approve the 2025–26 operational budget after a presentation that outlined personnel changes, use of All In Virginia funds for literacy and summer school, and expansion of Best Labs; board directed staff to continue tracking Medicaid reimbursements and program outcomes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

High school construction nears completion on major elements; auditorium, cafeteria and field-house work proceeding

Leadership Lynchburg presents teacher survey to Amherst County schools; teachers cite time, staffing, compensation and support as top needs

School board splits on VSBA membership; asks administration to study alternatives and attorney costs

Amherst County school board approves 2025–26 operating budget; board and staff stress summer programs, grant funding and monitoring