Accomack superintendent outlines 100‑day priorities, cites staffing gaps and tech rollouts

Superintendent Dr. Miller told the Accomack County School Board on Sept. 2 that her office has completed a 100‑day review of district operations and is moving several initiatives into implementation, including a one‑to‑one Chromebook take‑home plan for grades 3–12, updated safety templates and a push to reduce mileage reimbursements by providing district vehicles.

The report said the division’s overall pass rate on the state Standards of Learning (SOL) exams for the most recent year was 65.84 percent. Dr. Miller highlighted achievement gaps by subgroup and identified middle‑school science and some high‑school history courses as areas needing attention. She said additional school‑level SOL detail and a longer report compiled by a district data staffer are available for board review.

The superintendent framed the report as diagnostic and action‑oriented: “We did complete individual meetings with all of the board members,” she said, and noted follow‑up listening sessions and a plan to post a longer superintendent memo for the public. Dr. Miller said the district has submitted school safety audits to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services using the state template and is adopting a standardized emergency response card to be worn with staff ID badges.

Human resources director Dr. Garrison told the board the division currently lists 43 vacancies and that, after actions taken at the meeting, the number would drop to 40. He described the district’s recruiting status for multiple schools, saying some positions are in the stage labeled “developing a talent pool” while others are in active interview status.

On technology and transportation, Dr. Miller said the district is rolling out 300 MX smart panels to classrooms and will begin distributing Chromebooks to students in grades 3–12 on Sept. 8. She described a fleet‑management change that replaced mileage reimbursements with district vehicles for many staff needs, saying the district paid about $100,000 in mileage during the 2024–25 school year and expects vehicle purchases to produce net savings over time: “All of those vehicles will be paid for by a savings within 3 years.”

Board members pressed for more detail on the vehicle purchases and the budgetary authorization for them. Board member Miss Turner said she did not recall board approval for the vehicle purchases and asked for clarification: “I don't recall the board approving $335,000 to purchase vehicles.” Doctor Johnson responded that mileage reimbursements have been approved historically on vouchers and noted the board could review totals during budget reporting.

Dr. Miller also described transportation resources and spare vehicles: the district reports 59 buses in regular circulation, seven buses dedicated to special‑education routes, and several spare buses; she said all buses in service have air conditioning. The superintendent said the district purchased two activity buses and several SUVs to reduce mileage costs and support school operations.

The report included plans to update the capital improvement plan in October, a division technology plan scheduled for December, and a strategic‑planning committee that will develop a five‑year strategic plan for board review in the following spring. Dr. Miller said the division will continue to use both paper‑and‑pencil and digital modes of instruction but will increase online assignments and assessments to align with state testing formats.

Dr. Miller closed by noting increased public communications, saying the superintendent memo reached more than 28,000 Facebook views on one posting and noting increased streaming of board meetings as part of a transparency effort.

Looking ahead, the superintendent asked board members to expect biweekly superintendent updates (reduced from weekly) and to participate in planned listening events and committees that will flesh out budgeting, calendars and policy work.