Board approves FY27 capital plan; grants limited flexibility to use $1.2M in restricted sales tax for computers, approves Head Start budget

The Rockingham County Board of Education approved the fiscal 2026–27 capital budget and several operating items on voice votes.

A finance presenter asked the board to approve a $5,950,000 capital budget for FY27 and requested permission for the superintendent to use up to $1,200,000 of restricted sales tax funds from the 25/26 allocation to purchase computers for students and staff so the district could lock in current vendor quotes. The board voted in favor of the capital budget and the limited flexibility for the superintendent to use those restricted funds.

Head Start: Miss Jumper, the district's Head Start director, presented the Head Start grant budget for 2026–27. She listed personnel at $1,291,190 and, after listing fringe and contractual costs, said "our total budget, including our in kind, is $2,599,443.03 dollars." The packet also included a per-student figure for 198 students shown as $10,371. The board approved the Head Start budget by voice vote.

Larger operating budget outlook: a separate finance presentation reviewed state planning allotments published Feb. 27 and noted the district is modeling roughly a $3,000,000 decrease in state funding for the next school year; staff said they plan to present a proposed county funding request (noted in the packet as $27,000,000) to county officials and asked the board to put the proposed request on the March 23 work session agenda so county timing could be respected.

Votes and procedure: actions recorded in the meeting were taken by voice vote; the transcript captures the motions and seconds but does not include a roll-call tally in the record.