[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6093389,"mediaKeyId","2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8","parentId",2847285,"title","Parents raise concerns over constitution booklet and materials-distribution policy at Lynchburg schools","audioSeconds",181,"startMs",2847000,"endMs",3028000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8&start=2847&end=3028","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8/thumbnail_2847000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093389/Virginia/Parents-raise-concerns-over-constitution-booklet-and-materials-distribution-policy-at-Lynchburg-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093389-c3e81e40e3cc22048209b7cb24a0bcc6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771020539&Signature=ldqMTGMvz8QTQcY5polNYGB6Qt6OKdV6M3V3JLk9zBozNEAYdbjAHLlK-QaBAq-H4L0w-xF7W-5Dbn0bbFU6hlmmeYqBg7VjbGtAmpbp61tpfiRaDtI9YUYautrRwOpG-Ijan3eVkGLwag7ooAtv~81ZkDbCQdQvK-ukCfwVSaoxeFElMJLmSaH2rhp-LTGoiu8sBZlhyLPknKIMbO3MZTxG~NR91LrnbiaiGHdLL~nbdpNr-lnTk7g~EJNsaLMpXNAtWsX9E~h0nnSe2f~SJtQency3VGs04Y4IikcUWZu13Wl~4qHrZcJSzD1NKJaZBPrwkjJCQGeOxJYX5Sm2sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","LYNCHBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS","date","2025-04-02T14:11:53.553Z","article","During the board’s general public comment period, multiple parents raised concerns about the district’s materials-distribution rules and recent donated items given to students.

April Watson, a Lynchburg City Schools parent, told the board that a constitution booklet distributed to elementary and middle-school students contained a QR code linking to www.917society.org and that the website included content and fundraising appeals for political candidates and groups. Watson said the district’s policy KF — which requires materials from nonprofit community organizations be clearly identified and include a disclaimer that the school board does not sponsor or endorse the materials — was not followed on the constitution handouts.

“I saw my child's constitution in his binder ... and I noticed ... a QR code on the back that takes me directly to a website, www.917society.org,” Watson said. “Section KF of the school board policy states materials from nonprofit community organizations approved for distribution must clearly indicate their source and must include the following statement: 'These materials and the activity described herein are not sponsored or endorsed by the Lynchburg City School Board.' That disclaimer was not printed on the constitutions distributed to many of our elementary and middle school students.”

Watson said the 917 Society has ties to Moms for Liberty and that other districts have refused the same constitution donation. She asked the board to perform consistent vetting of donated materials so parents and students are not exposed to political material without appropriate labeling.

Other speakers, and district response

Board members and staff noted the district routinely reviews donated materials and that some donations require individual review. Watson and others said the inconsistency in how donations were handled — compared to other packets (for example, a Lynchburg Fire Department packet that contained the required disclaimer) — created concern.

Ending

Board members did not take immediate action at the meeting but the public comment and requests for consistent vetting were entered on the record for board and staff follow up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","LCS School Board Meeting: April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parents urged the Lynchburg City Schools board to review procedures after a constitution booklet distributed to students included a QR code linking to 917society.org and lacked the disclaimer the district’s policy KF requires for nonprofit materials.","taxTitle","LYNCHBURG CITY PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia","taxId",38444,"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},6093402,"Board pitches repurposing T.C. Miller as early-childhood center; parents urge keeping school open",1590,5702000,7292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8&start=5702&end=7292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8/thumbnail_5702000.jpg","/articles/6093402/Virginia/Board-pitches-repurposing-TC-Miller-as-early-childhood-center-parents-urge-keeping-school-open","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093402-b7715a8c9039eba7059625316829a9ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771020540&Signature=L2GcGJJzloKm9Ouqh2gOO12KCKoGcIpljBlHEkhW-nM5Y-T2Ls3WkjpxlWSJ5SZbvyvJ3QM2hQs6QlUi2BpmmPCUwCyUdzmrmUxswGRII~KWgvv5fwUrZCAc6ElVpVaYPbVQlSRFxUCX7PmEahY0~kxv2mQ-0yDJHtJRljUeKRH3~-sE1~CGcpZcS2WV9OtWkhOu0Xn~DdfdlcwHCKzf9YsJJSrT7d9yUPPeaUkaOv1WY3y-brRyMvTcba4cBwqiMaZwFWb58UOdWjjoP1IGb2V0k0Cf9-~IWiwdTfI~pNF~7bUhseADT-cu8DF-KNPhIqVZrUV2FfEbtC~EbEvxCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lynchburg City Schools board presented a multi-phase “elementary efficiency” plan that begins with repurposing T.C. Miller from a kindergarten-through-5 elementary school to a consolidated early-childhood center and moving some elementary alternative programs into the building. The board said the changes would increase elementary utilization rates, expand coordinated pre-K services and yield about $1 million in recurring savings.

“Phase 1 itself can be broken down into three different parts,” Doctor Copeland, the superintendent, summarized, describing the immediate elements: T.C. Miller would cease operating as a K–5 building and would host full-day pre-K and early-childhood special education; the Transition Assistance Program currently at Bass Elementary would relocate to T.C. Miller and be co-located with the Restorative Academy; and the plan includes selective rezoning of small, “island” zones to send students to closer schools.

Why it matters: The board and staff said the district has lost about 1,200 students over the past decade and that elementary utilization is low; the recommended steps are designed to reduce operating costs, target limited capital improvement funds and increase access to concentrated early-childhood programming.

Key details presented

- Enrollment and space: Board staff said T.C. Miller’s enrollment was in the “100s–160s” this year. Hutchison Early Learning Center currently serves about 206 students; Paul Monroe, Perrymont and R.S. Payne each run pre-K classrooms (Paul Monroe 61 students; Perrymont 48; R.S. Payne 47). The building plan for T.C. Miller, staff said, includes roughly 17 classroom spaces appropriate to be reorganized for early-childhood uses.

- Rezoning islands: The board proposed transferring the Birchwood apartment cluster into Darrington’s attendance zone and moving a cluster around Florida Avenue/Winston Ridge into Bass Elementary’s zone. Board staff said those neighborhoods currently ride buses daily to more distant schools; moving them to closer schools should shorten rides and increase parental engagement.

- Staffing math: Staff reported that, after the moves, the district would need three of the teacher FTEs that were assigned to T.C. Miller to make the transition work; Bass Elementary would gain four teachers under the plan, Heritage would lose three, Darrington would gain two. Overall, the staff projected approximately $1 million in savings from the phase 1 approach compared with keeping T.C. Miller as a K–5 school.

Public reaction and concerns

Several parents, staff and community members spoke during the general public comment period, urging the board to reconsider closing T.C. Miller as an elementary school and to weigh nonacademic impacts. Leticia Rodriguez, a Lynchburg City Schools parent, told the board she moved to the district specifically to enroll her child at T.C. Miller’s performing-arts program and said the recurring threat of closure undermines families’ trust.

“I moved here in July of 2024 and sought after T.C. Miller specifically for my child,” Rodriguez said. “To constantly hear that the school is looking to be closed makes me feel like our move was in vain.”

Mahesha Miller, who identified herself as both a staff member and a parent at T.C. Miller, described her family’s experience and implored the board to preserve the school’s community. “It isn't just where we work, but it's where our kids learn and it's where we belong,” she said.

Former teacher Joan Lewis Yoder urged the board to consider staff retention consequences if the district closes the school, noting regional examples where closures led to loss of experienced teachers.

Board process and timeline

Board members said the proposal has already been reviewed by the finance and facilities committee and the joint task force. A public hearing on the elementary-efficiency plan was announced for the board’s work session on April 3, and formal action on the proposal is scheduled for April 8. Board members emphasized they could not finalize detailed staffing or zoning changes until after the public hearing and required notices.

Ending

Supporters of the plan said it would allow the district to better coordinate early-childhood services and focus capital improvement dollars; opponents said the plan would displace specialized programs and disrupt families. The board scheduled formal public comment and will vote only after the hearing and further review.","The Lynchburg City Schools board proposed repurposing T.C. Miller as a consolidated early-childhood center and rezoning small 'island' neighborhoods, part of a multi-phase elementary-efficiency plan the board says could save about $1 million over keeping the school open as a K–5 building.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093408,"Lynchburg school board hears public on FY26 budget as division seeks $5.5 million from city",3838,607000,4445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8&start=607&end=4445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8/thumbnail_607000.jpg","/articles/6093408/Virginia/Lynchburg-school-board-hears-public-on-FY26-budget-as-division-seeks-55-million-from-city","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093408-90d3b15ab3c3a06996940e0bca1cdab7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771020540&Signature=QWUyZ1d72A79qxUnBMX4mTxlnbvvHoRy8-RqydlSt0Wjm6TDsp4ijS14bs40P18S0ySOOVwjproOctlRyDNEmP6-jXXE2MyMiyEj9J4RXUM7cSjuB-u8ySi4-U9b9EYkwCalKOrQw4u0LjD6qcoY5ilFB4cpWyckCoOJgXhLUG16NSAhXgW92eZiYeT4Wl8oPKDq8asaz1RTmcJ19~scp7jJ3RDqMwTzDp4y39WqHOIx~jVa8cM9BNgA1cb8VIY4A~g8RpDCeJyVHy02GINdI63jLT1uG~UCSfE3Liowhmhzv6l0e~cMjflmj9e2WnLOpgEtWNYDa23ofRdSMFQDwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lynchburg City Schools board held the legally required public hearing on the division’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget and heard public comment as officials outlined a continuing gap between what the division requested and what the city has signaled it can provide.

“It's just a quick update for everybody. We requested $5,500,000 from the city; current budget numbers have $2,710,000, so roughly 50% of what we requested,” Doctor Copeland, the superintendent, told the board during the budget discussion. “We have to wait for the governor and the legislature” to finish action on the state budget, he added.

The division’s chief financial presenter said the February month-end financials show revenue and expenditure timing differences but no new notable variances for the month. Board members also said recent action at the state level — a governor’s amendment to the budget — changed the calculation of a support-staff “cap” and will reduce funding for positions the division had expected.

The nut graf: The shortfall matters because the division’s largest costs are salaries and benefits; board members said the combination of reduced city support and uncertain state funding could force personnel or program decisions once final numbers are known.

Details from the presentation and discussion

- Superintendent Doctor Copeland and finance committee members said the city-level allocation shown so far ($2.71 million) is far short of the $5.5 million the schools requested. Doctor Copeland warned the board and public the general-assembly process and a governor’s line-item changes could reduce state support for “support staff cap” funding and that the net effect for Lynchburg could be the financial equivalent of about 17 additional staff positions (board discussion estimated roughly $1 million in impact).

- The division's CFO (identified in the record as Miss Jamies) presented month-end figures for Feb. 28 showing that, at two-thirds of the fiscal year, revenue collections and expenditures are proceeding but with some legacy variances still being processed. She told the board there were three outstanding variances the staff continued to reconcile, including personnel in attendance/health services, security services overage driven by safety programs, and technology classroom-instruction costs tied to software purchases.

- Board members emphasized outreach to state lawmakers. Mister Connor urged citizens to contact delegates and senators immediately, saying the general assembly would act quickly and that overturning the governor’s changes could materially affect the division’s ability to maintain hourly-wage increases and positions.

Public hearing and process

The board opened the formal, legally required public hearing that is limited to budget comments. One person signed up to speak during the budget hearing and used her time to press the board to preserve services to students while being transparent about decisions. After public comment the board voted to close the hearing by roll call.

What happens next

Board members said the city council’s schedule — including an April 22 city budget hearing — and the legislature’s short session timelines will determine final local and state allocations. The board plans to press the city for full funding of the school division’s request and to report back to the public once the final state and city decisions are known.

Ending

Board members reiterated that personnel costs are the district’s primary budget driver and urged residents to stay engaged during the city and state budget processes. The superintendent and finance staff said they will provide updated revenue and expenditure figures once the legislature and city finalize actions.","At a legally required FY26 budget public hearing, Lynchburg City Schools officials said the division requested $5.5 million from the city but has so far been allocated $2.71 million; board members warned state vetoes to the biennial budget could reduce support-staff funding and cost roughly $1 million and several positions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093394,"E.C. Glass senior Lindley Crosby named 2025 ‘Excellence in Science’ scholarship winner",769,1331000,2100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8&start=1331&end=2100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8/thumbnail_1331000.jpg","/articles/6093394/Virginia/EC-Glass-senior-Lindley-Crosby-named-2025-Excellence-in-Science-scholarship-winner","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093394-134abcc335b61444a45ef6bf82d6793e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771020540&Signature=Xtslh~kErImycVgC8ZNIUccredqAXidVLTE5VdM5IJBQu0BuFwoMaKH77R6eoqb~Op1RaCvaJo5GmmHiQ0I-T21CVx~ZObCrRYf-59AtUqSusOFwAGWpEnArOUW1UzKbPt9EeKbslqhlQ7QTUj-9YidXFhhPhy34A2pBcU1P6CtPXEGow3xTTbjgUPWfqaR938HcEt7FB7fagLw-WFe1BOzrYG23FfoxKPqIJCB1VORYdAIwfsGS9~6zzhTXKmqf8xahCyL~L-o42Xmdh~lw6W12-VWKfhoY8Qs1AjeAInlJNdaJ4D~Qjme8zGXY347S3bP1oBZPXggJLFu82N76RA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lindley Eleanor Crosby, a senior at E.C. Glass who also attends the Central Virginia Governor’s School, was announced as the 2025 recipient of the Lynchburg City Schools Excellence in Science Scholarship.

The award recognizes an outstanding senior with strong performance in science and engineering-related courses who demonstrates a clear passion for scientific study. Dawn Wise, executive director of the Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation, described the scholarship’s history and selection process and introduced scholarship founder Doctor Charles Prior, who has funded the award since 2013.

Charlie Prior, who has held senior roles in nuclear and energy companies and who previously served the division, told the board he hoped recipients would both excel in science and bring skills back to Lynchburg. Nat Marshall, Community Relations Manager at BWXT — the scholarship’s lead sponsor for the past six years — also spoke in support of the award.

Crosby’s stated plans, related in the scholarship announcement, include majoring in environmental science at George Mason University, serving as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard in environmental response roles, and later pursuing graduate study focused on environmental and watershed sustainability. Crosby, who has competed at state and international science fairs and interned with environmental engineers at BWXT, thanked the Pryor family, BWXT and her teachers.

Ending

Board members congratulated Crosby at the meeting and took photos; staff encouraged students and families to continue engagement with the division’s scholarship programs.","Lindley Eleanor Crosby of E.C. Glass High School, who attends Central Virginia Governor's School, was named the 2025 Lynchburg City Schools Excellence in Science Scholarship recipient. The award, started by Dr. Charles Pryor and sponsored by BWXT, recognizes outstanding seniors pursuing science or engineering.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093399,"Board approves Perkins CTE local plan; staff propose $272,000 budget and announce donated food truck",1150,4431000,5581000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8&start=4431&end=5581","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847285-c53cb17f840dc288f23f782a30d84ea8/thumbnail_4431000.jpg","/articles/6093399/Virginia/Board-approves-Perkins-CTE-local-plan-staff-propose-272000-budget-and-announce-donated-food-truck","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093399-605557083ad87205b493ae4cde800ec6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771020540&Signature=ibXDgjqdvHrJiqgx0IB3ZlDoYG02nxOx4CxS29HqbwmkqMu2DqiLgA1gTCAjpMb1ChHhRITxStREIG8QbNYklJuUDDuWygvcpWpFzd6OtQv5aUNIY3PxqWrk32dQK5Rcqx~XOhzOBKqUi6BemAzmi3WJMTUKRwS~XHwlUg7CpOxmfR2dVS7Zl2Krw1JhgkFw9Xj6bxxYjgDFvYb9C~dcleXodTktZsHJSVeqqYGCyjsWc~WOxF3VerZhd1YfbwuZC9d330jOGWmAPNKSfsNutPvVjZbHZpo8hZMjexK5GVfPOfPXiMoivMWgdmiON~Puk1ZpN66uYjTZccdxjn5lVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board voted to approve the Lynchburg City Schools Perkins V local plan and associated expenditure priorities, a federally authorized program that funds career and technical education (CTE). The district’s CTE director presented a summary of program performance and a proposed spending plan that staff wrote to the Perkins submission deadline.

“We get results,” the CTE director said, noting the graduation rate for CTE completers runs notably high; he said the program’s completer graduation rate was “right around 96 percent.” The director walked board members through the application’s schedules and emphasized work-based learning, dual-enrollment expansion through CVCC, and nontraditional recruitment strategies.

Budget and programming highlights

- Staff proposed total Perkins-funded local plan expenditures of about $272,000 (state allocation to be finalized after the state posts grant totals). Major categories included $171,000 for equipment, $25,000 for professional development, $18,000 for student competition travel and $11,000 for a CTE summer camp.

- The presentation described how Perkins funds and local fundraising support students attending statewide and national career-technical student organization competitions (SkillsUSA, HOSA, FCCLA, DECA). The director reported a recent large registration cost example: sending 40 health-science students for competition registration and hotel approached $12,500.

- The director also told the board that Intuit (TurboTax) has selected Lynchburg as a recipient of a donated, customized food truck valued at $250,000 for the district’s culinary program. The donor will work with students on design and marketing and will deliver the wrapped truck in time for next school year if approvals proceed.

Board action and vote

After discussion about the line items and how CTE fundraising supports student travel and food costs at competitions, a motion to approve the Perkins local plan passed by roll call. The recorded vote showed one board member voting no; the rest voted yes.

Quotes and context

- On funding uncertainty and deadlines: the director said state allocations are usually not released until May or later and that the April 30 Perkins submission deadline requires the district to submit a plan before final state totals are known.

- On the donated food truck: “They have selected Lynchburg City to donate a $250,000 customized food truck for our culinary program to use,” the CTE director said. Board members responded with appreciation and said the truck could be used for classroom experience, community events and middle-school outreach.

Ending

Board members approved the plan and asked staff to bring follow-up materials on recruitment of nontraditional students, the Perkins performance data used in the annual report, and the logistics associated with accepting and deploying the donated food truck.","Board approved the local Perkins V plan to support career and technical education with a proposed $272,000 program budget. Presentation included line items for equipment, professional development, student travel and a newly announced donated $250,000 food truck for the culinary program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents raise concerns over constitution booklet and materials-distribution policy at Lynchburg schools

Board pitches repurposing T.C. Miller as early-childhood center; parents urge keeping school open

Lynchburg school board hears public on FY26 budget as division seeks $5.5 million from city

E.C. Glass senior Lindley Crosby named 2025 ‘Excellence in Science’ scholarship winner

Board approves Perkins CTE local plan; staff propose $272,000 budget and announce donated food truck