Scott County school board approves 2025–26 operating and cafeteria budgets, grants and surplus sale; several items contingent on county approval

At its June meeting, the Scott County School Board approved a package of budgets, grants and routine business items while noting several approvals are contingent on county action.

Superintendent Mr. Ferguson presented the proposed 2025–26 school operating budget and said it includes a 3% salary increase for all personnel and that final funding depends on approval of the county budget. “This is contingent upon the approval of the money from the county,” Mr. Ferguson said while asking the board to approve the budget as presented. The board approved the operating budget by voice vote.

The board also approved the proposed cafeteria budget for 2025–26, which Mr. Ferguson said reflects the same 3% salary increase and will be affected if county funding is reduced. Board members voted unanimously by voice vote to approve the cafeteria budget as presented.

The board approved a projected Head Start budget for 2025–26. Mr. Ferguson and staff described that projection as conditional: it is based on anticipated award decisions that had not been finalized at the time of the meeting. The board approved the projected Head Start budget for planning purposes.

The board voted to accept a VPSA grant resolution. According to Mr. Ferguson, VPSA funds have been used for technology infrastructure in the district in past years; the grant, as described in meeting materials, is intended for technology-related purchases such as servers, Chromebooks and software maintenance.

Board members authorized staff to submit applications for federal and state grant programs listed in the meeting packet, including Title I (Part A), Title II (Part A), Title III (Part A), Title IV (Parts A and B), Title VI (and VI-B), Forest Reserve funding and the Perkins Career and Technical Education program. The motion passed by voice vote.

Other routine approvals included minutes and claims, approval to verify locally awarded credit for two students identified in the packet as student 25401 and student 26028, approval of the Head Start financial report for February, and approval of Head Start transportation requests for 2025–26. The board also approved removing a 2008 Chevrolet Uplander from the division’s tangible personal property inventory.

The board approved a surplus sale to be held at the bus garage beginning at 9 a.m. on a date around the Fourth of July weekend and directed staff to advertise a more detailed list of items to be sold. Staff said the auction has drawn a public crowd in past years and that some vehicles are operational while others are not; the meeting record indicates items will be sold as-is and that the list of sale items may grow prior to the sale.

Near the close of open session, a board member moved that the board enter a closed meeting to discuss candidates for employment and the assignment and performance of school personnel, citing section 2.2-3711(a)(1) of the Code of Virginia (as stated in the meeting). The motion to go into a closed meeting was approved by the board.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Approval of May meeting minutes — motion moved/seconded in open session; voice vote, approved. - Approval of claims — voice vote, approved. - Verified credit: student 25401 — motion to approve presented by Mr. Ferguson; voice vote, approved. - Verified credit: student 26028 — motion to approve presented by Mr. Ferguson; voice vote, approved. - School operating budget 2025–26 — motion to approve; voice vote, approved; note: final funding contingent on county budget approval. - Cafeteria budget 2025–26 — motion to approve; voice vote, approved; contingent on county funding. - Projected Head Start budget 2025–26 — motion to approve projected budget for planning; voice vote, approved; contingent on award of Head Start funds. - VPSA grant resolution — motion to approve; voice vote, approved. - Authorization to submit federal grant applications (Titles I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, VI, VI-B, Forest Reserve, Perkins CTE) — motion to authorize; voice vote, approved. - Head Start financial report (February) — motion to approve; voice vote, approved. - Head Start transportation request 2025–26 — motion to approve; voice vote, approved. - Removal of 2008 Chevrolet Uplander from inventory — motion to approve; voice vote, approved. - Surplus sale authorization (bus garage, beginning ~9 a.m. around July 4 weekend) — motion to approve; voice vote, approved. - Motion to enter closed meeting under Section 2.2-3711(a)(1) of the Code of Virginia — motion to approve; voice vote, approved.

Why it matters: The operating and cafeteria budgets include a 3% salary increase; because final county funding had not been adopted, the board stressed that implementation of salary increases and some budget items depend on the Board of Supervisors’ approval of county funds. The VPSA grant and federal grant applications, if awarded, will fund technology and program services used across the division.

The board recorded approvals by voice vote and did not conduct a roll-call vote on the items summarized above. Several approvals were explicitly described by staff as contingent on outside actions (county budget approval or pending grant awards).