Teachers and residents urge Powhatan supervisors not to cut extracurriculars amid school budget gap
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Summary
Dozens of teachers, students and residents told the board during public comment that cutting sports, arts and extracurriculars would harm enrollment, student well‑being and teacher retention, and urged supervisors to prioritize school funding during the FY27 budget process.
Multiple teachers, students and residents used the Feb. 23 public‑comment period to urge the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors to protect school funding and extracurricular programs as the county moves into budget season.
Courtney Jarman, a Powhatan County Public Schools employee, described the modern teacher’s workday and called teachers "saints," saying many work 50–60 hours a week and asked the board to approve a budget that supports staff. "Please, approve a budget that supports this," Jarman said.
Althea Hudson, a resident and teacher, and Britney Torpy, a Powhatan High School English teacher, echoed that plea and asked supervisors to collaborate with the school board to address a reported $1.2 million shortfall. Hudson said she took a $17,000 pay cut to teach in Powhatan and urged the board to "help us fix the budget." Torpy said teachers are not a line item and appealed to supervisors to consider the human impact of cuts.
School leaders and volunteers described the consequences of reductions to programs and transportation. Jamie Rowland, who volunteers with show choir, warned that eliminating extracurriculars would accelerate enrollment declines and urged protecting travel and transportation funding because those activities keep students engaged. "If programs like that got taken away...we could lose residents in this county," Rowland said.
Terrell Dean, the county’s lead performing‑arts director, told the board that removing $1.1–$1.5 million would cut opportunities that drive student engagement and success, calling arts, athletics and career‑and‑technical education "not an extra." Students also spoke: Ethan Burchett described how show choir and JROTC helped him recover from depression and gave him purpose; other students pleaded to preserve sports and clubs.
Several speakers warned that cuts could reduce teacher recruitment and retention, noting regional salary comparisons. James Kunkka, a former school‑board member, said Powhatan was near the bottom among peer counties for teacher pay and urged supervisors to support raising salary scales.
Board members thanked speakers, reiterated there has been "absolutely 0 discussion" about withholding county funds from the schools and encouraged participation in upcoming budget workshops and town halls scheduled for mid‑March. No formal board action on school funding was taken at the meeting; the FY27 recommended budget and CIP were presented to the board earlier in the evening and additional workshops were scheduled for March.