Halifax County School Board adopts $83 million proposed budget, keeps $500,000 high‑school set‑aside; approves new facilities rules and program renewals

Halifax County Public Schools adopted a proposed fiscal‑year 2026 budget of roughly $83 million and approved several administrative measures at its March board meeting, including preserving a $500,000 carryover for the new high school and adopting revised rules for community use of district facilities.

The board’s vote approved the budget built from the General Assembly’s current funding “calc” tool; the plan includes a 3% employee pay increase, continued implementation of multi‑year compensation initiatives, and a carryover appropriation the division will use for capital, security and fleet needs. Board members debated whether $500,000 of that carryover should be explicitly reserved for the new high school; the motion to remove the reservation failed and the budget was adopted with the $500,000 left in place.

Why it matters: The budget vote sets the division’s request to the county and determines how the division will use state carryover funds the audit shows it is holding. The board also approved several operational contracts and policies that affect daily school operations and public access to school facilities.

Most important decisions

- Budget adoption and carryover: The board approved the FY26 proposal that Doctor Buckley presented as the division’s current plan based on the General Assembly numbers. The budget shows state, local and federal revenue lines and includes carryover money the division has held for capital and program use. The board retained a $500,000 line item described in discussion as related to the new high school project rather than removing it from the advertised request. The board’s discussion centered on whether to preserve flexibility for capital projects or earmark the money for the high school; supporters of keeping the money intact argued the division needs protected pots to finish multi‑year capital projects.

- Facilities use policy and fee schedule: The board approved revisions to the district’s community use regulation and fee schedule and agreed to a 60‑day review after implementation. As part of the final action the board directed staff to remove the proposed fees for certain outdoor facilities (tennis courts and batting cages at the high school and middle school) and the walking track and to eliminate a four‑hour minimum charge; those items were taken out of the tabled fee schedule and the updated policy will be re‑examined in 60 days. The board also authorized centralizing payment processing at the central office rather than handling payments at individual schools and directed staff to roll out an online reservation and payment portal on a trial basis.

- Facility management portal trial: The board approved a 60‑day trial contract with a facility‑management vendor (vendor 2 in staff materials) for $2,113 to test online booking, approvals and electronic payments; the contract can be cancelled before the annual subscription begins if the board decides not to continue.

- Program and contract renewals: The board approved renewing the district’s food‑service contract with Sodexo for another year and approved the local choice health insurance renewal through Anthem/Local Choice. The Anthem renewal produced a modest 3.1% net premium increase for the division; the board approved the renewal and the division will hold employee premium contributions at current levels for the coming plan year. School staff also noted a separate, one‑time $1,000 employee bonus authorized by the General Assembly is subject to the governor’s action and, if enacted, would be paid in June.

- Appropriation of carryover funds and MOU: The board approved a requested budget amendment to appropriate state and local carryover funds (including All In Virginia and construction carryover). The board also approved a memorandum of understanding to clarify use of year‑end carryover funds between the school division and the Board of Supervisors; the MOU is intended to make the school board’s use of carryover funds for capital, security and compensation more transparent when the county reviews the division’s request.

- Instructional calendar: The board approved converting March 20 from a planned remote/professional‑development day to an in‑person instructional day to increase students’ in‑seat instructional time. Staff said the division remains in compliance with the state’s 990 hour requirement for the school year and is tracking instructional minutes by level.

What the board heard (non‑voting items)

- New high school construction update: The board received a detailed construction update from Mr. Muraska. Work items reported as complete or nearing completion included permanent electrical power, duct leakage testing and insulation, restroom ceramic tile, LVT classroom flooring, curtain wall glazing, metal siding, permanent grading and retaining walls, basketball equipment and auditorium ceiling finishes. Site work described included permanent paving scheduled for spring break, new chain‑link fencing to begin, infrastructure for planned greenhouses, and replacement of leaking irrigation lines at the softball/baseball area. Staff said contractor Shockey is addressing short‑term stormwater issues with pumps and cut‑ins to existing lines; Shockey will cover some mitigation work as part of the contract. A speaker raised concerns about gym floor tolerances; construction staff said the floor is a floating system and that tolerances at edges will be checked.

- Extended learning and tutoring programs: Administrators and school staff presented program reports on All In Virginia tutoring, GEAR UP activities, and expanded Saturday/supplemental learning at multiple schools. Presenters described Saturday Academy at Scottsburg Elementary, middle‑ and high‑school tutoring and the adoption of programs such as Lexia PowerUp and Ignite Reading at the secondary level. Teachers and students described small‑group and one‑on‑one remediation, attendance recovery earned at a ratio of hours attended to school days recovered, and partnerships with local organizations that provided materials (for example the Halifax County Chamber donated copies of a local directory used as nonfiction reading material). Staff reported measurable student gains at participating grades and schools, and students described benefits such as improved reading fluency, confidence and organization skills.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in the meeting)

- FY26 proposed budget (advertised request ~ $83M), motion to approve advertised budget with $500,000 high‑school carryover retained — mover: Miss Hicks (motion amended then approved). Outcome: approved. Notes: Board debated removing the $500,000; final vote left it in the advertised request so supervisors could consider it during county budget hearings. Vote method: voice/roll call (tally not specified in the transcript).

- Facilities‑use regulation and fee schedule (updated community use regulation; centralized payments; online portal), motion to adopt with amendments removing specific outdoor fees and removing the four‑hour minimum; 60‑day review directed — mover: (motion made from board). Outcome: approved (amended). Notes: staff will implement and return with a review in 60 days.

- Facility‑management vendor (online reservation/payments), 60‑day trial contract for vendor 2 for $2,113, with option to cancel before annual subscription — mover: board motion. Outcome: approved.

- Sodexo food‑service renewal (one‑year renewal pending competitive procurement requirement next year), motion to renew — mover: Miss Runyon. Outcome: approved.

- Anthem/Local Choice health plan renewal (employee premium share held steady; division share increases ~3.1%), motion to approve renewal — mover: board motion. Outcome: approved.

- Budget amendment / appropriation of carryover funds (All In Virginia, construction carryover), motion to appropriate specified carryover funds to complete FY25 obligations and fund FY26 proposals — mover: board motion. Outcome: approved.

- MOU with Board of Supervisors clarifying use of carryover funds, motion to approve and forward to supervisors — mover: board motion. Outcome: approved; chair signed the MOU for transmission.

- March 20 calendar change: convert March 20 to an in‑person instructional day (to increase instructional minutes), motion to adopt — mover: board motion. Outcome: approved.

- Miscellaneous use‑of‑facilities approvals on the consent or agenda items (examples: local groups’ reservation requests such as Essence of Movement Dance Studio), motion to approve listed facility requests (dates and some fees were corrected during the meeting) — Outcome: approved (details to be confirmed by central office following new policy roll‑out).

Context and notable clarifications

- Carryover funding: Board and staff described the year‑end “carryover” (sometimes called the state’s catch‑up or “caboose” funding) as money the division receives after the March enrollment verification; the board discussed that practice and approved formalization via an MOU with the Board of Supervisors so the division can plan and appropriate funds for capital, security, fleet and program continuity. Staff described roughly $6 million in recent audit carryover balances (presentation materials gave a multi‑year figure) and explained that some amounts are ESSER/grant restricted while others are division discretionary for capital and program uses.

- Health insurance and benefits: The Anthem renewal produced a modest overall increase (reported as ~3.1%); staff emphasized that the division planned to hold employee contributions level and that Anthem and Local Choice agreed to quarterly utilization reviews. Staff also noted the $1,000 bonus from the General Assembly is contingent on the governor’s action and would be paid only if the state appropriation stands.

- Implementation and next steps: The chair signed required documents (MOU and the budget cover documents) for transmission to the Board of Supervisors; staff will implement the facilities‑use portal on a trial basis, roll out the adjusted fee schedule, and return to the board in 60 days with usage data. The construction team will continue to report progress toward occupancy and final inspections.

Ending: The board signaled it will monitor program outcomes and financial reports through the spring and asked staff to return with any recommended changes following the 60‑day trial of the facilities management system and the scheduled quarterly benefits/utilization reviews.

Sources: public board meeting transcript and presentations to the Halifax County School Board (March meeting).