New Prince Edward County superintendent outlines CTE expansion, construction timeline and testing data timing

Chip Jones, the new superintendent of Prince Edward County Public Schools, updated the Board of Supervisors on staffing, career-technical education and construction progress, saying the division is “building a team that’s ready to move the division forward.” Jones said he has been on the job four days and that the district has added a CTE principal and an athletic director, and is planning a cosmetology course at Prince Edward High School to allow students to earn a licensure credential.

“Starting next week … we’re in the process of getting the equipment, recruiting the teacher. So our goal is that cosmetology will start at Prince Edward High School in the CTE center at the start of school,” Jones said. He said the division is coordinating with the community college and the Virginia Department of Education to clear remaining administrative steps.

Jones described recent construction meetings and said the school-building work is progressing, but that he still needs site tours to confirm completion timing. He told the board he was told an earliest completion date for one project of 2027 and that he will continue to follow up. On state testing, Jones said Virginia’s accountability framework and reporting timelines have changed and that the Department of Education has not released preliminary accreditation or SOL accountability data; the division expects those data to be released in stages with final data in September.

The superintendent also described community outreach plans: a mobile “Reading Eagle” bus that will visit several Dollar General locations and the Farmville splash pad, and a schedule of district events before school starts intended to engage families across the county.

Board members asked for follow-up once the division receives SOL and accountability data and thanked Jones for the update.