Floyd County schools report summer repairs, staffing gains and donated field house; track still needs fundraising

Dr. Jessica Cromer, a school division official, told the Floyd County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 12 that the division used summer break to complete targeted maintenance and to prepare buildings and staff for the start of the school year. The update summarized completed and outstanding work, staffing changes and two facility projects funded by private donations that still need additional fundraising. Cromer said the division used security-grant money to replace door locks at two elementary schools and completed warranty repairs to locker locks and floor tiles at the CCDC. Custodial staff stripped and waxed floors across the division. Maintenance crews replaced or repaired playground equipment and added sidewalk access at the high school drop-off to improve student safety. One of three HVAC units for the Willis Elementary gym was repaired; two units remain on a single compressor and are on the capital-improvement plan for replacement. The division removed asbestos-containing tile in one classroom this summer at an estimated cost of about $7,000 per room and plans to rotate floor remediation each year. Cromer told the board the field house at the high school was funded by private donations and has not used county tax dollars; the school board and county have not paid for that facility. By contrast, the high-school track requires an estimated “over $300,000” to replace, and the district is seeking donated funds to complete that project. On staffing, Cromer said the division hired 20 new teachers for the upcoming year (down from 30 the previous year) and reorganized some central-office duties after an administrative departure: the assistant-superintendent role was replaced with a director of secondary instruction and Tammy Hubbard moved to director of elementary instruction; Travis Cantrell moved to director of secondary instruction with Daniel Quisenberry hired as assistant principal at the high school. The division still faces vacancies in specialty roles including behavior specialists and speech-language positions and expects to contract for some services until hires are completed. Bus driver vacancies were reported as filled. Cromer also reported academic progress: Floyd’s division moved into the top 10 statewide divisions by the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) results from 2024 to 2025. She noted the start of a Communities In Schools Appalachian Highlands partnership at the high school, funded by grant money, to provide attendance support, parent engagement and non‑income‑tested one-on-one and small-group support. Board members asked clarifying questions about the donations for the field house and track, staffing distribution across schools and plans for unfinished HVAC work. Cromer and the board agreed fundraising and capital planning remain critical for the high-school projects. Work remaining for the start of classes includes completing some HVAC repairs, finishing at least one asbestos-remediation room in the rotation and continuing fundraising for the track and field-house finishing items. Cromer said staff and facilities will be ready for students when school starts.