Petersburg board adopts FY2027 superintendent's budget, greenlights Walnut Hill design‑build

The Petersburg City Public Schools board on March 18 approved the superintendent's FY2027 proposed budget and a package of capital and operational actions that together aim to protect core classroom services while beginning work on a new elementary school.

Superintendent Brown presented the proposed FY2027 budget built on current revenue estimates and the division's five strategic priorities: student achievement, wellness and support, talent acquisition and retention, operational excellence, and family engagement. The board approved the budget by voice vote after a motion by Mister Pierce and second by Mister Miles. The adopted proposal includes a $53,000,000 capital authority for Walnut Hill Elementary and the operating components of the superintendent's plan, as presented.

The superintendent and finance staff cautioned the board the proposal is based on revenue numbers available today and may be adjusted after the General Assembly completes its reconciliation. Dr. Mathias Graywood, the district's chief financial officer, summarized fund balances and year‑to‑date expenditures, noting the FY26 city transfer original budget was $12.97 million and the district had received $9.7 million to date with a remaining $3.24 million outstanding.

School leaders and community respondents also focused on employee health insurance during the public hearing. Miss Brown told the board the division will "absorb all of the increases related to health care" for another year even as the district evaluates options; public comments read into the record urged the board to retain Anthem and warned that switching plans could disrupt care for employees with chronic conditions. Budget materials presented anticipated a roughly 24–28% increase in premiums; staff discussed higher deductibles as part of the FY27 staffing and benefit package.

On capital work, the board accepted the new construction advisory committee's recommendation and approved Gilbane Building Company, with design partner Moody Nolan, as the preferred proposer for the Walnut Hill pre‑K–5 project. The board authorized the superintendent to negotiate and execute an interim agreement under the PPEA process to begin design‑phase activities. The motion carried by voice vote.

The board also approved an updated 2024–2029 Capital Improvement Plan that reflects amended projects presented at the March 11 work session, including projects for gymnasium and locker‑room improvements. Relatedly, the board approved a $209,779 expenditure to modernize the three Petersburg High School locker rooms after a November inspection by the deputy state fire marshal identified safety and electrical hazards; facilities staff have completed immediate remediations and the full scope is projected to finish by June 30, 2026.

Other routine actions carried by the board included approval of three student field trips (a national speech and debate tournament in Washington, D.C., the VHSL state speech competition in Salem, Va., and a 4‑H Ignite conference); several policy updates on electronic participation and employment classification (approved on second read); and calendar adjustments tied to election day that designate April 21, 2026 as a student holiday/employee wellness day and make April 24 a regular school day.

What's next: Finance staff said the budget will be updated if and when the state finalizes numbers; the Walnut Hill team will move into the interim design phase now that the selection is approved. The board concluded the meeting after a superintendent report highlighting CTE, a new Crimson Awards staff recognition program, and invitations for community feedback on communications planning.

Attributions: Direct quotes and specific figures come from the district presentation and public‑hearing comments as read into the record by budget staff. The board voted on the CIP, the FY2027 proposed budget and multiple action items during the March 18 meeting.