Pittsylvania County school leaders map $58 million in capital priorities and press for higher pay

Dr. Mark Jones, presenting for the Pittsylvania County school division, told the joint meeting of the Board of Supervisors and the School Board that 100% of county schools are fully accredited and highlighted state recognitions and career-technical programming as reasons the division is asking for more local funding.

The presentation laid out capital priorities to be paid primarily from the 1% local sales tax approved by voters in December 2022 and collected beginning July 2023. Jones said the division raised about $3.6 million in the first year and estimates roughly $68 million over 19 years. He listed three near-term priorities that together could consume the sales-tax stream: security vestibules and gym attachments at 14 schools ($6.3 million); HVAC and window replacements at five older elementary schools ($30.9 million); and a 12-classroom addition at Kentuck Elementary ($6.5 million). Jones said those first three priorities total about $58 million and that inflation and construction costs have increased estimates since earlier planning.

Why it matters: the sales-tax proceeds were marketed to voters for school capital improvement; if the first-phase projects exhaust…