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Board to schedule work session after school division wins construction grant it can’t yet afford to match
Summary
The school division applied for and was awarded a construction grant for a new high school, but County Administrator Tracy M. Gee told the Board the County lacks the matching funds now; administrators recommended a joint work session on capital planning to review options.
Jessica Nowlin provided the Board with school system figures and said current average daily membership (ADM) stands at 1,476 while the budget was based on 1,487. She reported about 140 students are home-schooled or have religious exemptions and that the school finance team is finalizing FY2025 figures and preparing for auditors.
County Administrator Tracy M. Gee told supervisors that the school division had applied for and been awarded construction grant funds for a new high school building. Administrator Gee said the County does not currently have the matching funds required to implement the project and that funding it now would impose a substantial tax increase on residents. She and school administrators recommended scheduling a joint work session between the Board of Supervisors and the school board to discuss capital planning and possible next steps.
Supervisor T. Wayne Hoover said he was concerned the grant application was not discussed with the Board before submission. Director of Data Analysis and Testing Lucy Hall responded that the school board had voted to allow the superintendent to apply for grants deemed beneficial to the school system.
The Board did not take a formal vote on funding; members directed staff to set a date for the proposed work session so the boards can review capital needs, potential funding scenarios and any required local match.
