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Superintendent updates board on state budget timing, new laws and upcoming VSBA forum
Summary
Superintendent briefed the board on the stalled state budget resolution, the governor's May 2 deadline to act, and several newly passed education provisions; the division will host the VSBA spring networking forum May 1 at Page High School.
Superintendent Dr. Fox updated the board on state budget timing, several pieces of new education legislation and local plans to host the Virginia School Boards Association spring networking forum.
Dr. Fox said the General Assembly reconvened and returned its budget package to the governor largely as passed; the governor has until May 2 to act on measures. Dr. Fox said one headline item the board had followed was a proposed support cap (the speaker referenced $223,000,000), but the governor returned a version with a smaller amount; Dr. Fox said the legislature sent the original $223 million amount back and the situation remained unresolved at the time of the meeting.
Dr. Fox said the Page County Board of Supervisors will notify the school division by May 5 of its local contribution and reminded the board that the locality must adopt a budget by the 15th of the month per state code; the district will then finalize its budget documents and likely need amendments depending on state and local actions.
Dr. Fox listed several bills the division is tracking that will require policy or operational updates before July 1 implementation: codified "bell‑to‑bell" instruction with division discretion on details; tightened requirements to notify parents within 24 hours of a suspected or confirmed overdose at school; new restrictions on certain food additives in school nutrition (the superintendent referenced a list of seven additives that largely involve synthetic dyes); new training and notifications for heat exposure and protection for student athletes; and provisions related to tourniquet kits and diabetes education. Dr. Fox said the division will rely on guidance from the Virginia Department of Education and the VSBA law clinic for implementation details and would bring policy changes back to the board as final language becomes available.
The superintendent also announced the district will host the VSBA spring networking forum on May 1 at Page High School, featuring VSBA president Jo Wanda Rollins Fells, a dinner and student presentations; the meeting will include invited representatives from 12 nearby divisions and the district asked board members to consider inviting town council members or supervisors to the dinner, which will have a charge for attendees.
