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Board hears budget update, approves consent agenda and first-reading policies; discusses overdose and AI policies
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Perrigan reported that K–12 enrollment is slightly above the number used to build the budget and detailed recent grants, facility work and equipment purchases.
Superintendent Dr. Perrigan reported enrollment and budget updates to the Washington County Public Schools Board of Education and outlined recent grants and capital spending.
Enrollment and grants
Dr. Perrigan said the division budget used an estimated K–12 enrollment of 6,450 students and reported a current enrollment of 6,452 students. He noted an additional roughly 248 three- and four-year-old pre-K students and more than 200 out-of-division students who attend in-district programs, which raise the district’s total headcount on some state reports.
The superintendent announced two grants not in the original budget: a $50,000 award from the Ann and Jean World Foundation to support a childcare program and roughly $40,000 from the Wellspring Foundation to acquire equipment used in a career-technical project (described as a “mule shed maneuver” for moving sheds built by students).
Capital and operating updates
Dr. Perrigan described purchases and projects already under way: five new diesel school buses; completed or in-progress tennis-court renovations at one high school; new handrails at three high schools; replacement cafeteria windows at Abingdon Elementary (about $60,000); painting and partition work at several elementary schools; paving at the Career & Technical Center; and six six-seat utility vehicles (golf carts) for high-school events. He said the division submitted a carryover request to the Board of Supervisors and will discuss carryover funding at the supervisors’ meeting.
Supplemental retirement program returns were reported as higher than budgeted, producing a positive variance of roughly $100,000 on that line.
Policy discussion and first readings
The board moved and seconded a motion to consider first readings of policies 7.01–7.15 as a group. Board members discussed several specific policies during the first-reading presentation.
• Student overdose notification: Board members asked whether the proposed policy would require notifying the entire school community whenever an overdose is determined to be school-related. Staff said the policy follows state guidance and a Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) template; if an overdose is school-related, the district would communicate with the entire school community while protecting a student’s identity. "Privacy is number one," a staff member said, and templates have been prepared.
• AI (artificial intelligence) policy: Staff described the policy as intentionally broad to allow the district to pilot tools and to revise the policy as the technology and practices evolve. Administrators and curriculum staff plan professional development and regional conversations with higher-education partners and expect to refine definitions and guidance after early implementation.
• Acceptable computer/device use: Board members noted new language applies to district-owned laptops and district‑leased cell phones and asked that staff communicate the change to employees. A staff member said administrators would review the policies with building leaders and follow up in division communications after final approval.
Votes and formal actions
The board approved the consent agenda, grouping items 6.01–6.24, by unanimous vote. The recorded outcome in the meeting was “unanimous.” The board subsequently approved grouped first readings of policies 7.01–7.15; that motion also passed unanimously on first reading. No final adoptions were recorded for those policies at the meeting; they remain at first-reading status until final consideration.
Closed session notice
A board member moved that the board convene in closed session under Virginia Code §2.2-3711(a) to discuss personnel matters (superintendent performance and other personnel actions), requests for release from compulsory attendance, and other enumerated items. The board agreed and recessed to closed session per the motion.
Ending
No final policy adoptions or additional budget appropriations were approved during the meeting beyond the previously mentioned capital purchases and the consent-agenda approvals. Staff will return at a later meeting for final policy votes and to report on carryover discussions with the Board of Supervisors.
