Petersburg schools outline $6 million in savings, propose capital work, staffing pay and new curriculum

Superintendent Yolanda Brown told the Petersburg City Public Schools board on Feb. 18 that the division has identified roughly $6 million in unspent funds for fiscal 2025 and recommended using the money in three phases: immediate building and technology repairs, one-time staff retention payments and a later purchase of new ELA and math curriculum for grades K–12.

Brown said the proposal would prioritize “exterior power washing and painting of all nine schools, restroom renovations and auditorium work at Petersburg High School, window and exterior door replacements at two elementary schools and server and network upgrades” as the first phase, then direct funds to staff retention and a later curriculum investment. “I am proposing that we use a portion of these funds or the majority of the funds to, number 1, do exterior power washing and painting of all 9 of our schools,” she said.

Why it matters: The money the division now plans to redeploy stems largely from salary vacancies and budget conservatism built into last year’s baseline. The board’s decisions will affect school safety and learning environments before the FY26 budget is finalized; they also come as the state budget remains in flux and city funding is unchanged from FY25, officials said.

Details from the work session - Calculation of savings: Dr. Matthias Greenwood, the division’s chief financial officer, told the board that the savings are a mix of unspent salary lines and reserves left from the rapid budget build last year. “Some of it is gonna come from salaries. Some of it is just gonna come from the inherent budgeting process ... part of that is that the savings from that reserve and the salaries is gonna result in about $6,000,000 of money in excess that we would have to spend before the end of the fiscal year,” Greenwood said.

- Phase 1 (facilities, security, technology and vehicles): The superintendent’s presentation listed immediate work including exterior painting of all nine schools; full restroom renovations in portions of Petersburg High School; replacement of asphalt and restriping at Westview Early Childhood Center and Vernon Johns Middle School (not to exceed $160,000); window and exterior-door replacement projects at Cool Spring and Lakemont elementary schools (each up to $160,000); a new digital marquee for Petersburg High School; vestibule/security upgrades at selected sites; phase-1 server and network upgrades (budgeted up to $250,000); and purchase of three seven-passenger vans plus one facilities SUV (not to exceed $240,000).

- Phase 2 (human capital): Brown proposed a one-time $1,200 retention payment for full-time contracted employees, long-term substitute personnel and permanent part-time employees hired on or before Feb. 1, 2025. The board approved that payment at the meeting; staff estimated the cost at about $900,000. Brown also asked the board to approve a division-wide compensation and classification study (estimated cost shown in the materials at about $55,000) to guide longer-term pay and classification decisions.

- Phase 3 (instructional materials): The superintendent proposed reserving funds to adopt new instructional curricula — mathematics K–12 and English language arts for grades 6–12 — once VDOE lists and vendor reviews are complete. The presentation noted the division currently uses materials adapted from other districts and seeks formal adoptions.

Context and constraints - State and city funding: The board heard that Petersburg’s FY26 baseline revenue projections were built from the governor’s introduced budget and VDOE enrollment calc tools; officials cautioned the general assembly’s final actions and any house/senate amendments could change state aid. The city’s contribution to the school general fund was reported as unchanged from FY25 ($12,361,000 in the presentation); staff noted the city swept $6.1 million of prior fund balance and returned $1.5 million, with $1.9 million still under discussion.

- Timing: The superintendent’s timeline built the capital and technology work to begin this spring and complete high‑priority items before students return in August. Board members were told the public hearing schedule and adoption targets for the FY26 budget: public hearings Feb. 26 and March 5, with a target board approval on March 19. Public hearing notices required by the Code of Virginia will precede the hearings.

- Implementation risk: Officials described a mix of low-to-medium implementation risk for surface and non-structural projects (painting, striping, flooring) and higher risk for work that may uncover further structural needs (roofs, extensive masonry or HVAC), which could increase costs and timing.

Votes at a glance - One-time retention stipend: Board approved a $1,200 one-time retention stipend for full-time contracted employees, long-term substitute personnel and permanent part-time employees hired on or before Feb. 1, 2025, estimated cost $900,000. (Motion recorded and carried.) - Purchase approvals (consent items): The board approved a package of purchase authorizations for asphalt/striping (not to exceed $160,000), exterior door replacements (not to exceed $160,000), technology infrastructure upgrades (phase 1 up to $250,000), three seven-passenger vans and one facilities SUV (not to exceed $240,000), and school board office flooring (not to exceed $200,000). (Motions carried.) - Other business: The board also approved routine consent items including the final personnel agenda, minutes, donations and several proclamations (Career & Technical Education Month, FCCLA week, School Social Work Week and National School Breakfast Week). (Motions carried.)

What board members asked and staff promised Board members pressed for detail on which purchases were firm quotes, whether estimated costs included contingencies, and how the projects would be prioritized if the full $6 million were not available. Several members asked that projects likely to cause high downstream costs (for example, roofing or masonry that may need structural work) be flagged before work begins. Staff said they had begun collecting quotes and would return with fuller line-item estimates and an implementation schedule; Gilbane has been engaged to do a facilities assessment to inform future capital planning.

Where things go next The board was given a phased plan so work can begin quickly on projects for which quotes and contractors are available. Staff will return with finalized quotes and a schedule for vendor work, and the administration will incorporate any changes in the FY26 proposed budget and in the division’s formal CIP and TIP planning. The adoption of any curriculum will follow VDOE guidance and vendor review schedules.

Ending: The work session produced a clear near-term plan to apply one-time FY25 savings to facilities and technology upgrades while directing a smaller share to staff retention and a later curriculum investment. Board members and staff agreed to return with itemized quotes and project schedules; the division scheduled public hearings in late February and a tentative budget approval date of March 19.