Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Approvals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Henry County school board approves budget adjustments, bonuses and multiple contracts
Summary
The Henry County School Board approved budget reconciliations after county funding came in below the board’s request, authorized employee bonuses and a series of purchases and contracts — including interactive classroom technology, curriculum resources, roofing design services and paving at Laurel Park Middle School.
The Henry County School Board approved a set of financial and contract actions at its May meeting, moving to reconcile the division’s requested operating budget with a lower figure approved by the county and to fund several one-time and capital needs.
Board staff told trustees the board-approved operating request totaled $118,991,871 but the county supervisors approved $117,973,744, leaving a local funding shortfall of $1,018,127. To align the division’s budget with the county’s appropriation, staff recommended adjustments that include an instructional reduction of about $818,000 (which staff said would eliminate a small number of proposed family-liaison positions) and a $200,000 reduction in facilities funding. The board approved the recommendation to adjust the categories to reconcile the difference and to forward necessary requests to the county for appropriation.
Trustees also approved a recommended employee bonus program funded per House Bill 1600. Staff said Henry County Public Schools will receive $917,452 in SOQ-position bonus funds; eligible SOQ instructional and support positions will receive a $1,500 bonus on June 4. Because the school nutrition fund operates separately, those employees will receive a $600 bonus immediately, with the possibility of an additional payment next school year if summer-program revenues permit. The board voted to approve the bonus distribution as presented.
The board approved several procurement and contract items during the meeting. Highlights include:
• Approval to purchase Lexia site licenses (Lexia Core5 and Power Up) for elementary and middle schools to support literacy interventions.
• Approval to consolidate and purchase Renaissance products (FastBridge, STAR Math & Reading, Accelerated Reader, Fundamentals and EduClimber) with fiscal impacts reported as $72,331.76 from All In Virginia funds and $120,206.76 from local funds.
• Authorization to award RFP 2604083A296 for interactive boards, classroom audio and digital signage to the recommended vendor (Clinton Learning) and to permit subsequent renewals; staff stated the district may draw up to $250,000 from various technology and grant sources for the purchases.
• Approval to award a multi-year term contract for architectural and engineering roofing design services (four-year term) to the vendor recommended by the evaluation committee; project-level costs will be determined when scopes are defined.
• Approval of a contract with JC Joyce Paving Company of Patrick Springs, Virginia, for removal and replacement of asphalt at Laurel Park Middle School for $989,920.75.
Board members asked questions about the budget impacts, the scope of proposed cuts to instruction and the timeline for vendor deliveries. Several motions were approved by unanimous voice or hand votes.
The board also set a new date for its July meeting — moving from Thursday, July 16 to Tuesday, July 14 at 9 a.m. — to avoid conflict with the Virginia School Boards Association conference.
The superintendent and staff noted the actions will be shared with the board of supervisors where required (for appropriation items) and that staff will return with final contracts, schedules and any additional details as projects move forward. The board adjourned the open session and voted unanimously to convene in closed session to discuss personnel and legal matters.
