Votes at a glance: consent agenda, retention bonus, budget amendments and scholarships approved

At its meeting, the Winchester Public Schools School Board approved multiple routine and financial items including the consent agenda, a recommended retention-bonus scenario, budget amendments for fiscal 2025 and scholarship disbursements; the board then moved into closed session for personnel matters.

Consent agenda A motion to approve the consent agenda — covering the agenda, minutes, bills, monthly finance report, facility usage, the special education annual plan and minor policy revisions — passed on a motion by Mr. Island with a second by Dr. Tedrow. The board chair called the voice vote and the consent agenda was adopted.

Retention bonus (scenario 2) The board approved a recommended retention-bonus plan labeled "scenario 2" (a $750 bonus), contingent on state funding estimates. Finance staff said the state portion expected from the governor’s action would total $446,009.20 and that local funding needed would be approximately $177,181 for a total program cost of roughly $624,101. The motion to approve scenario 2 was made by Mr. Burchanoff and seconded by Miss Burrow; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Budget amendments, FY2025 School finance staff presented recommended FY2025 budget amendments to appropriate additional and reconciled funding. Items included a state funding increase tied to the retention bonus, an Afghan refugee grant (parent liaison) of $20,000 for the remainder of FY2025, state security grant awards, an extended-school-year state grant and other grant adjustments; a Hanley trust duplication was corrected and a city funding reconciliation reduced the city appropriation by $52,206. The board approved the proposed amendments on a motion by Mr. Island, seconded by Mr. Rothermel; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Scholarships The board approved disbursement of $56,250 in scholarships for FY2025 for John Hanley High School graduates from Cooper, Armstrong, Shingleton and pooled scholarship funds. The motion to award the scholarships was made by Miss Harris and seconded by Miss Burrow; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Closed session Pursuant to section 2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia, the board voted to convene a closed session to discuss personnel matters, including candidates for instructional positions, coaching stipends, substitute teachers and support staff transfers and resignations. The motion to enter closed session was made by Mr. Burchanoff and seconded by Mr. Allen and carried on a voice vote.

The board recorded no roll-call tallies in the public transcript; votes were taken by voice and the chair announced each motion carried.