Northumberland supervisors and school board ask Virginia State Police to investigate school finances; county to assume oversight, hire contractor

Northumberland Countysupervisors and the Northumberland County School Board on April 18 asked the Virginia State Police to review the school divisionafter the Internal Revenue Service placed a tax lien and other financial discrepancies surfaced.

The joint meeting in the county courtroom produced three linked outcomes: both bodies voted to request a Virginia State Police investigation that the boards directed to cover at least five years of records; the Board of Supervisors approved an immediate plan to hire a contractor to oversee an orderly transition of the school systemfinances to county management, with a target transfer date of July 1, 2025; and the supervisors voted to request that the school board consider placing the superintendent and the finance director on administrative leave pending legal review and the investigation.

The motion to seek a state police review asked investigators to examine financial records, payroll and personnel records, public meeting and records-management practices and any potential violations of Virginia law or federal requirements. Board members…