Poquoson board approves forwarding $1.6 million carryover request to city council

The Poquoson City Public Schools Board voted unanimously Nov. 18 to send the superintendent's FY25 carryover request — $1,600,000 in excess local funds — to the Poquoson City Council for reappropriation.

Miss Spence, who presented the finance report, said the FY25 audit produced an "unmodified" opinion with no significant findings. She reported the division ended FY25 holding $21,929 reserved for a state technology match and $1,600,000 in excess funds that, under Virginia regulations, the locality must reappropriate rather than the school division retain.

The superintendent's carryover request would allocate $1,262,980 to capital improvement projects already approved in the division's capital plan, including $271,700 for a high‑school fire alarm, $434,700 for middle‑school gym air conditioning and $561,897 earmarked for high‑school tennis court repairs. The proposal also requests $267,800 for curriculum updates to meet new Virginia Department of Education standards, $46,945 for a high‑school hot‑water heater replacement and $25,000 for basketball hoop replacements.

Miss Spence cautioned that vacancy savings that produced these excess funds were unlikely to recur and that the single audit report was pending federal guidance but reported no compliance issues so far. The board voted 7–0 to forward the request to the city for consideration at its December meeting; if the city approves the transfer, school staff said work on eligible projects could begin immediately.

Board members asked clarifying questions about timing and weather constraints for outdoor repairs; Mr. Roberts noted the tennis‑court repair schedule depends on a suitable weather window and an approximately 30‑day curing period for the pavement before painting and striping.