School board approves $799,699 supplemental appropriation for school improvement grants, staffing

The Orange County School Board voted unanimously to approve a supplemental appropriation totaling $799,698.98 to account for additional state revenue and to fund school improvement grants and staffing needs.

Superintendent Doctor Hornick told the board that after the division adopted its budget last summer it received roughly $614,000 in additional state funding that was not reflected in the Munis system. He said the supplemental request also records awards of federal school improvement grants for multiple schools. Hornick said the bulk of the funds will be used for salaries — in particular for permanent substitute positions — and for professional development tied to literacy (the Virginia Literacy Act and related reading programming) and math instruction, plus instructional materials. He described the grants as targeted to schools that did not meet federal benchmarks and noted the way connected primary/elementary campuses affect accountability designations.

Board members moved and seconded the supplemental appropriation and approved it by voice vote. The motion as presented in the meeting materials asked the board to increase both revenue and expense budgets by $799,698.98. No roll-call of individual yes/no votes was taken; the clerk certified the meeting’s actions later in the session.

The appropriation will be added to the division’s budget and incorporated in upcoming financial reports; Hornick said staff will return with any required next steps to record the funds formally in the accounting system.