Powhatan staff propose alternative education classrooms at all schools; $25,000 start-up and SmartPass hall-pass pilot recommended

Powhatan County School Board members on Feb. 6 heard a multi-part student-services budget presentation that included a new alternative-education classroom proposal for each school, increases to counseling and nursing support lines, and a $15,000 request for an electronic hall-pass system.

Miss Anthony, the staff presenter for student services and counseling, said counseling instructional materials would rise by $3,600 to support new counselors. She said coding corrections moved some travel costs from conference accounts into local mileage; attendance services increased materials and supplies by $1,800 to fund a program-management position that would coordinate homebound, homeschool and alternative-education administrative functions.

On the alternative-education proposal Miss Anthony described a model that would place one small…