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Board hears updates on Title grants, CTE expansion, ISEP, GEAR UP and summer programming
Summary
Superintendent and department leaders outlined projected Title allocations (Title I ~$4.8M; Title II ~$391,546; Title III ~$40,809; Title IV ~$286,932), new CTE courses for 2026–27, ISEP and GEAR UP grant proposals, and a multi-site summer academy schedule with leadership professional development.
PETERSBURG, Va. — At its May 20 meeting the Petersburg City Public Schools board heard a series of presentations from central-office staff covering federal grant projections, career and technical education expansions, alternative education grant requests and the district’s 2026 summer programs.
Interim director of federal grants Dr. Tia Palmer presented preliminary allocations for the coming Title-year and explained that final amounts are typically set by October. “So as of now, the preliminary or projected allocations for Title 1, 4 point 8,000,000,” Dr. Palmer said; she also listed projected figures for Title II (~$391,546), Title III (~$40,809) and Title IV (~$286,932) and said the applications will return to the board for signature and an anticipated June 3 vote.
Career and technical education director Dr. Thomas Midgett outlined the division’s VSBA workforce-readiness application and proposed new courses for 2026–27, including Electricity 1 & 2, Industrial Robotics Technology, Hospitality Tourism & Recreation 1 & 2, and Mental Health Assisting Careers 2. Dr. Midgett described partnerships that provide student stipends and work-based learning: “They were paid about 1,000 dollars for the time that they spent from February to end of April, doing those programs,” he said, and noted that students in those experiences averaged about 3.5 absences versus 13 for the wider school population.
The board also heard presentations on two discretionary grants: an Individual Student Alternative Education Program (ISEP) proposal focused on GED preparation, career counseling and assessment vouchers (the presenters estimated a request near $23,680 covering purchase services, transportation, and materials), and a GEAR UP renewal application supporting postsecondary readiness for the class of 2027 with a proposed budget near $45,000.
Chief academic officer Paul Brown reviewed summer 2026 plans, including locations (Cool Spring Elementary for K–5, Vernon Johns Middle School for grades 6–12), staffing models (two teachers per K–8 classroom), dates and the mix of remediation, enrichment and professional development for teachers and leaders. The district also described expanded STEAM camp partnerships (Virginia Tech, University of Mary Washington, Richard Bland College) and wraparound offerings including transportation for off-site camps.
Board members asked for enrollment numbers and assessment plans for summer STEM offerings; administrators said pre- and post-assessments would be used and that sign-ups were already under way. Members also discussed leadership and school-safety training elements to be carried through the year as part of a leadership conference and follow-up work.
Several items stemming from these presentations will return to the board for vote: federal Title applications (anticipated June 3), and grant application approvals already moved forward in committee motions where noted.
