Board approves $6.46 million in school supplemental appropriations; superintendent highlights student achievements

The Washington County Board of Supervisors approved supplemental appropriations totaling $6,456,753 to the Washington County Public Schools to reflect additional state revenue from the General Assembly's HB 1600 and to fund specified school accounts. The board voted 6-0 to adopt the appropriations after a public hearing that drew no speakers.

County finance staff opened the public hearing by explaining the legal trigger for the hearing: budget amendments that increase expenditures beyond 1% of the currently adopted budget require a public hearing. Ms. Turgill told the board the school division requested supplemental appropriations as follows: Fund 312 (School General Fund) $6,329,364; Fund 314 (School Fiscal Agency Funds) $61,267; and Fund 315 (School Textbook Fund) $66,122. "A public hearing concerning amendment of the FY 24-25 county operating budget is required when the amendment ... would exceed 1% of the total expenditure shown in our currently adopted budget," she said.

After the appropriation vote, Washington County Public Schools leadership gave a wide-ranging presentation on academic results, capital projects and student programs. Dr. Perrigan, superintendent, opened the presentation by thanking the board for its support and saying, "it is indeed my pleasure and privilege to share with you some of the accomplishments that our students, staff, and families ... have had over the course of this school year." He outlined recent and planned capital work — including completed safety vestibules at Patrick Henry and Holston high schools, restroom upgrades, a new coal shed and ongoing paving and auditorium renovations — and noted the division serves roughly 6,700 students pre-K–12 who are eligible for free meals.

Dr. Perrigan highlighted academic and extracurricular results the division cited in the packet: several schools ranked in the top tiers of state accountability measures (the division reported it ranks eighth of 132 school divisions on SOL-related measures), Greendale Elementary received national recognition, and the division reported extensive participation in career and technical education and workforce credentialing. He said the division saw about 3,000 dual-enrollment credits in the fall term (saving families roughly $500,000) and more than $3 million in scholarships and awards for graduating seniors. "We are doing things the Washington way," Dr. Perrigan said.

Board members responded with praise for school leadership and the presentation. No public commenters spoke for or against the supplemental appropriation during the hearing. The board adopted the resolution to amend the county operating budget and to appropriate the supplemental school funds by formal vote.