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Henry County supervisors reject $532,239 school-generator appropriation
Summary
The Henry County Board of Supervisors voted down a School Board request to appropriate $532,239 in unexpended FY2025 local school funds for generators at three elementary schools; supporters from the School Division urged approval but the motion failed 2–3 with one abstention.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors on March 24 declined a School Board request to appropriate $532,239 in unexpended FY2025 local school funds to install generators at Axton Elementary School and Mt. Olivet Elementary School and to partially fund a generator at Drewry Mason Elementary School.
County Administrator Dale Wagoner described the request and cited §22.1-100 of the Code of Virginia, which the minutes note governs unexpended local school funds. Superintendent Dr. Amy Blake-Lewis, Iriswood School Board member Ben Gravely and Facilities/Maintenance Director Keith Scott spoke in support of the appropriation during the meeting. The minutes record a motion by Supervisor Garrett Dillard, seconded by Dr. Pam Cobler; the motion failed with recorded votes AYES: Cobler and Dillard; NAYS: Adams, Buchanan, and Pruitt; ABSTAIN: Chris Lawless.
Board members did not adopt the appropriation, and the minutes show the matter could be brought back to the Board at a later meeting if the School Board wishes to request the unexpended funds again. County Attorney George Lyle said the School Board may return with a request at a future meeting.
Context and implications: supporters said the generators would support school operations and resilience; the Board’s rejection means the School Division must identify alternate funding or re-submit the request. The meeting record does not include detailed cost breakdowns for each generator or a timeline for installations; those details were not specified in the minutes and remain to be provided by the School Division if the item is reintroduced.
