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Warren County School Board approves salary-scale reformat, adds part‑time substitute social worker; appoints clerk and dissolves budget committee
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the Warren County School Board approved a reformat of the FY26 salary scales (no change to pay amounts), added a part‑time substitute social worker classification limited to 30 hours/week, appointed Sarah Stelzel as clerk for 2026, and voted to dissolve the budget committee. Board members also held first readings of updated committee and attorney policies and discussed limits on attorney access and fees.
The Warren County School Board met Jan. 21, 2026, and approved several administrative and governance items, including a non‑fiscal reformat of the fiscal year 2026 salary scale and creation of a part‑time substitute social worker classification.
Salary scale and substitute social worker: A board member moved that the board "approve the revised fiscal year 26 salary scale format to clearly identify VRS credible supplements consolidating them into a single reference page within the salary scale book with no change to compensation amounts or funding and approve the addition of a substitute social worker classification." The motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. The new substitute social worker role is limited to no more than 30 hours per week and the board explicitly noted the change does not create a permanent full‑time position or request additional funding.
Clerk appointment: The board heard a recommendation to appoint Sarah (transcript spelled both "Steelzel" and "Stelzel") as clerk of the Warren County School Board for a term beginning Jan. 1, 2026 and ending Dec. 31, 2026. A motion to appoint her was moved and seconded; the meeting record shows at least one member opposed, but the motion carried.
Dissolution of the budget committee and policy readings: The board moved to dissolve the standing budget committee so the full board can review the budget publicly as a single unit; the motion passed with recorded opposition. The board conducted a first reading of updated policy BCE (school board committees) to reflect the removal of the budget committee and the addition of building and facilities committees. Dr. Ker presented those changes and invited questions; no vote is required for a first reading.
School attorney policy discussion: Members reviewed and debated edits to policy BCG (school board attorney). Multiple members referenced Virginia code and practice comparisons (transcript references include "Virginia code 22.1‑82" and examples from Virginia Beach) while discussing whether board member requests that require attorney time should be routed through the chair or superintendent to control attorney fees. Board members asked for clearer language to limit unplanned legal expense and to protect attorney‑client privilege where appropriate. Mr. Jones and another board member were assigned to consolidate proposed edits for the next meeting.
Personnel matters: The board certified a closed meeting under §2.2‑3711(A)(1) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to discuss prospective candidates for employment and later approved the personnel report and addendum dated Jan. 21, 2026.
Votes at a glance - Revised FY26 salary‑scale format and addition of a part‑time substitute social worker classification: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified in the transcript). - Appointment of clerk (Sarah Stelzel; transcript also spells the name "Steelzel"): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved with at least one recorded opposition (tally not specified). - Dissolution of the budget committee: motion moved, seconded and approved with recorded opposition (tally not specified). - Personnel report (Jan. 21, 2026) and addendum: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (tally not specified).
What’s next: Board members asked staff to return with clarified policy language for BCE and BCG and further edits to the school attorney policy; those consolidated edits will appear at a future meeting for additional review and vote.
