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Dinwiddie superintendent asks county for $1.5 million to cover pay, security and small capital needs
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Weston presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 operating budget that asks the county for $1.5 million to fund employee compensation, a six‑year security system partnership and a $150,000 boost to small capital; the board was briefed but took no vote.
Dr. Weston, superintendent of Dinwiddie County Public Schools, asked the county to provide $1.5 million in additional operating support for fiscal year 2026 to cover compensation increases, campus safety upgrades and small capital projects.
The request accompanies a proposed budget Dr. Weston said “really is about how we're gonna continue to manage the present, but continue to create the future, while we're doing that.” She told the board the division plans conservatively around an enrollment figure of 3,975 students and is seeking county help because roughly 70.5% of the division's revenue comes from the state and it cannot generate local revenues on its own.
Why it matters: School officials said the additional local transfer would allow a 3% pay increase for all employees, move school resource officer (SRO) funding into the county’s operating budget, and increase the small‑capital account used for maintenance, fleet and emergency repairs. Superintendent Weston framed those items as priorities to maintain instruction and safety while the division adjusts to lower enrollment than earlier projections.
Key details
- Compensation: The budget proposal includes 3% for all employees (about $1.4 million total), with roughly $882,000 of that earmarked for teachers and $530,000 for other staff. Dr. Weston said the division eliminated 11 positions to reduce costs, producing about $931,308 in savings.
- Safety and security: The division proposed a six‑year security‑system partnership with the county that would integrate school cameras and access controls with the county system. The total program would not exceed $4 million and the superintendent asked the county to commit roughly $667,000 per year for six years to cover that plan.
- Small capital and fleet: The division asked the county to increase the annual small‑capital allocation from $150,000 to $300,000 to support facility repairs, paint schedules, furniture replacement and a planned shift from owning to leasing a 48‑vehicle fleet over five years.
- Contingent items and possible adjustments: The general assembly’s agreed budget (sent to the governor) added about $166,000 for the division and a $1,000 teacher bonus; if the governor signs that version, Dr. Weston said the division would reduce the county request to about $1.1 million and could restore five instructional positions, an additional counselor and a social worker to the proposed plan.
Numbers and funding sources
- Division operating budget (proposed): approximately $61.3 million. - Federal funding noted in the presentation: $339,650 (less than 1% of operating revenue), including Medicaid reimbursements (~$180,000), E‑Rate (~$94,000) and JROTC funding (~$65,000). - Emergency and capital items discussed separately: the middle‑school boiler emergency procurement (see related vote) was paid from FY25 county CIP funds.
Board reaction and next steps
Board members asked for additional detail about the compensation scale and where the county increase would be allocated. Jason Brown (District 5) asked where county increases would come from; Dr. Weston said the request is intended to bridge the gap between state funding and the division's compensation commitments.
Dr. Weston said there is no action required of the board at the meeting; she and staff will meet the county in upcoming 2x2 sessions and work sessions. A joint presentation to county officials was scheduled for March 11 and a joint board meeting is set for March 12.
Context and background
Dr. Weston said enrollment has not recovered to pre‑pandemic levels; the division built last year’s budget on 4,100 students but expects to plan FY26 on 3,975 students. The division said it will monitor the governor’s final action on the general assembly budget and revise its county request accordingly.
Ending
Superintendent Weston closed by urging continued collaboration with the county, framing the budget as an investment in student outcomes and staff retention. She said staff will return with more detailed cost breakdowns at upcoming work sessions.
