001This Brian we're live. Okay, we're returning from closed session. >> Madam chair, I certify to the best of our knowledge that only public business meetings lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion to go into executive session were heard, discussed or considered in executive session. >> Second. >> A motion was made by Mrs. Moore and seconded by Mr. Christian to return from closed session. Roll call vote. >> I. >> We are back in session. Um 2.3.02 certificate of action taken in closed session. >> Madam chair, I recommend we approve the personnel agenda as amended. >> Second. >> A motion was made by Mr. Schnaudt and seconded by Mr. Christian to approve the personnel agenda as amended. Are there any questions? All those in favor, please
002raise your hand. That's unanimous. The motion carries. Now we will rise and have a prayer and the pledge of allegiance, please. >> Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us to be a part of this time today. Help us to listen to your guidance and make good decisions impacting the students and other adults and the adults in our school system. Watch over us and keep us safe. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> That leads us to 3.04 adoption of the agenda. >> Madam chair, I move to approve as presented. >> Second. >> A motion was made by Mr. Christian and second
003by Mr. Schnaudt to approve the consent agenda as presented. Are there any questions? >> I have one, Madam Chair. I just uh I noticed that we did a lot of voice over IPs uh work and one of the uh it was a bus garage, I believe it was. I mean, were they was that new is is that new um lines or is that just an upgrade? >> Just existing monthly costs. >> Monthly costs. Okay, great. Thank you. >> Were were you able to find out about that cost that I was uh Okay. >> I'll check and I'll get I'll get that information to you. >> All right. Um all those in favor of the adoption of the agenda, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. 4.01, approval of the consent agenda. >> Madam Chair,
004I move to approve the consent agenda items. >> Second. >> A motion was made by Mr. Schnaudt and second by Mr. Christian to approve the consent agenda. Are there any questions? I I have Let's see. I want some um Like the the uh floors at the cafete- the cafeteria at the high school, why was that more than like the gym floor to recoat? >> Yeah, yes, sure. >> That's a That's a great question. The cafeteria floor hasn't hadn't been touched in many, many years. Sort of ugly as a duckling, let's say. Uh it looks much better now. Wait till you see it. We had it sanded down. It's probably on its last sand. Um I think that floor was played on by by a lot of people in the in the past there. Um It
005got it sanded and then it's got a brand new look to it with um uh with some new um not uh water-based polyurethane. It really looks good. So, we had it we had to put that in the budget and it looks really good. >> Okay. >> Can I follow Can I follow up on that question since you brought that the since it's on probably it's last leg. Um do we have any idea of how many years we can get out of what we have now before we going to have to plan cuz that's going to be a fairly substantial budget item. >> Yeah. You can usually get 10 years out of a floor, but I know that we have gotten much more of that out of the high school floor, the gym floor. We're on
006the last uh I hate to say last leg with the gym floor. As far as uh sanding it down, you have about let's say uh five of those sand downs until you start hitting nails. So, we we really need to do a sand down on the gym floor and that means a substantial cost on that and also a new paint job. That's something we can talk about for next year, but on the cafeteria one, that should hold us for 10 years and if we baby it, there's not a lot of traffic on that floor. It's not like we play on that floor. We may be able to stretch that a little further. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Are there any other questions? I thought I had one other one, but I don't see it. So,
007um all those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. Um we're going down to 5.01. Um report of the superintendent recommend approval of technology equipment to be declared surplus and sent for recycling. Mr. Patrick Moore. >> Good evening, board. So, it's that time of year again just to kind of out with the old to make room for the new. Uh this equipment is either outdated or it's just been beat on for a while and it's no longer usable for the classroom. So, this equipment we're just seeking to deem it surplus. Uh the company we have to come pick it up actually recycles it ethically and we get a certificate of destruction. So, there's no school data that we have to worry about. All that's taken care of. And depending on what's able
008to be extracted, we actually sometimes we get a check. So, they pay for it. So, it's just something we're looking to market surplus so we can make room for the new. >> Do you have an average age on the tablets and whatnot that were cuz like seven one of one line item I don't have it up right now but like 700 items about what's the average age of those? >> So, the update cycle I like to do is between three and five. It used to be three years. So, every three year cycle the schools and the the student machines would be refreshed but with budget and economical factors and we're starting to stretch that closer to five just based on the financial side of it. But three to five is kind of the number and
009then the hardware is outdated and you're not keeping up with demand. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> So, so when you stretch that to five is there an increased cost on our side as far as maintenance on those items? >> So, we take care of everything in house. >> Right. >> So, the only expense we have is essentially the parts. So, say Mr. Christian dropped his Chromebook and we need to replace The screen might have been 40 bucks last year. >> Okay. >> So, depending on the market there, that's the only fluctuation. But we take care of all break fix internal. So, >> So, it's just extra your extra time and your staff hours. >> Okay. >> Yep. And then materials. >> And materials. >> Yes, sir. >> I got a question that might be on
010topic. Um I know sometime ago well, we're talking about equipment. Um sometime ago there was concerns that the school was liable for a lot of destruction of the equipment. The kids were getting the computers and all. Has any of that improved or is it about the same or what with with regards to that? >> So, in the last three years we've slowly brought all Chromebooks back in. So, a lot A lot destruction was when they were traveling back and forth with the students they were assigned one to one. So we've actually gone back to the classroom cart model just based on that breakage is and then somebody's got to pay for it. So that was a big hurdle we had to do. So the school ate a lot of that cost unfortunately, but it is
011what it is, right? >> Right. >> So with that that has decreased significantly since we've returned to the cart model. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. What's the pleasure of the board? >> I move to approve as presented. >> Second. >> A motion was made by Mr. Christian and seconded by Mr. Snoddy to approve the technology equipment be declared surplus and sent for recycling as presented. >> Thank you, sir. >> All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. >> 5.02 Knight's Compass Program. Dr. John Ringstaff, Director of Instruction. >> Good evening, board. We approach to share information about a new encore class. We are pleased to offer a new encore course called Knight's Compass. This encore rotation blends essential life skills and academic standards necessary for 21st century
012in a fun and engaging manner. The metaphor of a compass guides students through four interconnected quadrants of development. True North represents our STEM standards. True South supports character trait development with focus on empathy, conflict resolution, and inclusivity. True East expands horizons through project-based learning and 4-H competencies, uh particularly for grades 3 through 5. True West focuses explicitly on executive functioning skills. This pillar supports our students' battle plans for success including organization, time management, impulse control, goal setting, and systematic problem solving. Within this course, students will advance their quest by testing their teamwork, trial and error, and resilience. >> So, where is this going to be housed at? >> This um this particular encore will be housed at the elementary school. This this class is um molding together uh the former STEM class along with our
013makerspace class um to have this Knights Compass class. >> And all K through 5, it'll be all of those. Okay. Okay. Is this just information? >> don't need action on this. >> Anybody else have any questions? >> I think we're good. >> All right. 5.03, the 2026-2027 Virginia Preschool Initiative application by Mr. Ringstaff. >> Board, our funding through VPI has been approved by the state, and at this time I'm not seeking any additional monies. Wanted to make you aware that that they funded 15 slots for 3-year-olds, 43 slots for 4-year-olds plus our Title 1 15 slots. So, together we have 58 slots for 4-year-olds. We have 15 slots for 3-year-olds all funded by the state or Title 1. We have 15 of 15 slots filled for 3-year-olds, and we do have a short waitlist for
0143-year-olds. For 4-year-olds, we have 51 of 58 slots. And when I spoke with Ms. Walker uh when we conferenced about this information sharing earlier in the week, she stated that uh we're in good shape because we're starting the process of calling parents to say that you've been accepted or you have a position and she says that sometimes during that process they'll say we've already secured a spot elsewhere and so spots will open up so there's some flux there and she feels like with with that flexibility we are in good shape. Now, simultaneously I want to make the public aware that we are still accepting applications for preschool and I want them to be aware that there's currently eight open slots seven or eight open slots for four-year-olds. Parents should be aware that Buckingham's preschool program
015is a full day program offers free lunch and breakfast transportation is provided potty training is encouraged but not required. >> Any questions for Dr. Ringstaff? >> Sounds good. >> Thank you very much. >> Sounds good. >> 5.04 recommend a revision to the 2026-2027 adult meal prices, Mr. J.B. Heslin. >> Thank you again for bringing me up. Um, as you know, we talked about this a little bit last school board meeting. Uh, we are a CEP division which is a community eligibility provision school system um, and that allows us to feed all of our our students K-12 um, free breakfast and free lunch. Very It's a great program and we're very blessed to be able to do that with your permission. And um, doing that we have certain things we have to do. They send us
016a um, a toolkit that and a formula that we have to work through. Um, we did one last meeting and the day after the meeting they sent another one one revised toolkit. So, we put the numbers in and if you look at the adult lunch it takes it from 490 adding 15 cent to 505 for an adult lunch. And then breakfast kind of stayed the same. It was It was 285 last time I brought it to you and we is a 10 cent increase to 295. By doing this we can keep our CEP eligibility and we're able to feed all of our students. Very important program. >> Madam Chair, I'll move to approve the increase in the lunch rates as presented. >> Second. >> Motion's made by Mr. Christian and second by Mr. Schnaars to
017approve the revision to the 2026-2027 adult meal prices for the for the next year. Um, all those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. The motion carries. >> Thank you very much. >> Um, 5.05, recommend approval of policy revisions for DLB-R, salary checks and deductions and GBCB-R, sick leave, personal leave, and unpaid leave for employees. >> Yes, so we're seeking your approval of these um revisions this evening in preparation for um payroll that will begin for the at the fiscal year July 1st. Um the first uh policy revision DLBR, um there is is needed as we prepare to move towards um 24 paychecks during the not this year but the following year. Um and the requirement in order to be able to do that that all employees uh be on direct deposit, okay? And
018so there's a new section on salary checks, deductions, payroll changes deduction continuation. >> And again I say at this last at the last meeting none of this is anything new. This is all current practices that we're just putting in writing for our employees. >> So, we would revise this when we went to the 24 paychecks as opposed to >> Well, a lot of things need to be because it's in our contracts and everything that we're 12 pay. So, a lot of things will need to be revised when that happens. But, this is the start of this. >> Okay. >> This is the policy piece. >> So, we're trying to, you know, be a step ahead. >> Put everything in writing. Yes. >> And we're also including there we're updating the direct deposit um form that
019they can place well. >> All we're doing is articulating what we're already doing. >> and and including that it's required. >> it in writing. for the direct deposit. >> And then the other one, the sick leave one, G- yes, GCBR, um personal leave may accumulate to a maximum of 5 days. Personal leave balances in excess of 5 days as of June 30th will carry forward as sick leave if not used. So, current our current practices is that you receive, if you're a 10-month employee, um for example, you receive two personal leave days. If you don't use those personal leave days, then they revert to sick. This change will will allow you to accumulate personal leave. So, let's say last year I didn't use any of my personal leave days. I had I had two from
020last year. I'm going to receive two this year, and then I will have four personal leave days that I can accumulate up to five days. So, it would take, you know, 3 years for someone to accumulate a 12 a 10-month employee to accumulate up to five days, but it's a start, and I think it's a nice benefit for employees to be able to um save their personal leave for an upcoming wedding or a big vacation that's coming up or something special. >> Surgery. I mean, >> Well, yeah. I just think it's um >> Not necessarily theirs. >> Yes. But, they're we're not giving them any additional days, we're just allowing them to use those two personal days to to be able to accumulate them and use them for that purpose instead of reverting to sick.
021>> So, I just want to make sure I understand the process. If they if I can accumulate five, let's say that I've accumulated five. I have two this year, so now I have seven for the year, is that correct? >> They can only max out at five. They're maxed out at five. >> but you said that's accumulated, right? So >> June 30th and what you have at June 30th cannot be over five. So, if you have five >> You have five and then we'll give you two more July 1st, now you have seven for the year, but you have to get down to five by June 30th. >> you could but but by the by doing this, you know, if you if the the time off matches up, you could actually have seven days in
022one calendar one school year. >> But you also got to make sure that you know that it's one and a quarter days per month that you get accumulate them, too. >> Right, right, right, right. I I was just making sure that it's as the we as we get through the policy that we understand that >> Well, that's that's kind of what you're alluding to, right? You're saying that there's a maximum of five days, but leave balances in excess of five day days which shouldn't be there because at the end of the day the max is five. >> Right. So >> We just wanted to state where those days go. That's why that says that. >> And we do not upon an employee's separation of employment, this is not something that will be paid out. >>
023Ooh. >> Because we do that on sick leave balance. >> If their personal leave is rolled to their sick if they have any upon termination. >> cuz I thought that's what we were not doing cuz that's what we were doing. Is that different now? So, that this isn't changing that fact then. We still roll that over to sick if they didn't use it. >> Right. Well, and it also says here balances over 50 days as of June 30th will be lost. So, they don't get you know, they keep you can't accumulate more than 50, right? >> That's vacation. >> Oh, vacation. Okay. >> But they're all different maxes. >> Okay. >> Just clarifying this. I don't necessarily have a problem with the I mean with the proposal of the the change here. It's I just
024want to make sure that I understood it. So. >> Okay, when you did add the leave days taken that are not earned will result in a deduction in pay. Okay. >> And that's and that's standard practice now. >> It is and we're going to reference this policy in the employee handbook that Mrs. Branch will present to you in July. So every employee will sign off that they've read this when they're hired. So there shouldn't be any confusion. >> I imagine we're cuz you you at some point you're going to have circumstances. I would imagine we'd need to have something in there that says if any circumstances not covered by policy refer to school board or whatever because you know, you got some somebody that's sick undergoing treatments for longer period of times and they've just
025tapped out, but once you start cutting into their money, it's kind of one of those things where all right, you know, what's the right thing to do by the our employee our our family, right? So >> We have the gifted days policy that's outside of this. It's that's also available for employees. >> And we have not we have not examined that for revision this year going into this year. That's a I would want to construct a teacher committee and have feedback from all employees if we were going to make a an adjustment to that um to that to that policy because it's quite it's used frequently and it's it does it does help employees that are in those situations that you speak of. So we have not taken that on for revision. >> Madam Chair,
026I move to approve the the the policy as presented. >> Second. >> Motion was made by Mr. Christian and second by Mr. Snoddy to approve policies DOB-R and GCBD-R as presented. Are there any other questions? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That's unanimous. Motion carries. 5.06 fiscal year 26-27 state budget update. Is it 26-27 or 27-28? >> It's 26-27 >> It's both, but we really want to talk about next year. >> It's fiscal year 27, yeah. >> So, we This is basically going to be an informal update because the budget is not signed by the governor yet. Um there is a proposal that both houses have come to an agreement on and that is being considered for her uh signature, veto, or adoption. Or amendments, excuse me. So, we do not have a
027budget actual yet. We will not have that until after the after the budget is signed and it could take maybe a month, I don't know. But they have given us um VAST has given us um an amount that based on the ADM that they have from the um March 31st ADM, um our our state funds should be 19,9 114,408 dollars, okay? They have not broken that out into the categories yet, but they've given us a in mind that when the county funded us funded this the current budget, we were funded at the local required effort and local required match at to the dollar, okay? Now that the state has given us more money for 4% raise, and we and we were lucky cuz some school divisions honestly have to re- have to redo contracts because
028if they gave like a 2% or 3% raise to employees, and now the state is giving 4% on the state state share, they need to give 4% raises, so they've got to reissue contracts. And they So, it's more work than what we have to do, okay? So, we were we were lucky that we were proactive and that we were able to do that based on our based on our current situation. And based on the all the work we did last year with the budget. So, we don't have to reissue contracts, okay? But, depending on what our ADM where our ADM falls in the fall, we we will likely need to go to the county for uh you know, an extra appropriation of funds for the local share because the state gave us more money than
029we than we were originally budgeted for cuz we budgeted on the governor's got Governor Youngkin's budget that was that he presented in December. That's what we budgeted our um budget on, okay? That's what we created our budget based off of, and that was the most conservative version that was available. Now, this proposal this budget proposal that both both houses have agreed on that the governor is now considering it has more money in it for the school division, which means on the flip side that there is a local match required in order to receive that 4% from the state for compensation. There's there's that local required effort, local required match. And that we and when we talked with the county, we explained to them that that might happen where we would have to make an adjustment
030to our appropriation request, our budget request, based on final state numbers and final ADM. >> Do you want to add in? >> I think you really covered it all. The um the only the major difference from what we were the little bit of data we've gotten is a 4%. I don't suggest that we see anything else that's going to require local match that we're going to need to go for. Um, that's all they're really showing us right now. So, but we don't have exact numbers. >> Yeah, so just to go on the record with uh the community about regarding what's in the budget for K-12 education, the state budget, you know, there's 2. There's 2 billion dollars in new spending which includes 437 million for updates including re-benchmarking of positions, 1.4 billion in K-12 policy
031action, 162.6 million in early childhood policy actions, and about Excuse me, and about 720 million um >> general fund above what what what above what the house bill was introduced. So, as in the in the attachment, this is what we received from VASS. This is the latest information that we received early in the week from them. It's a 4% salary increase in both fiscal year 27 and 28. Um which we would have a local match for. Um, school construction, there's additional money in the grant for the biennium um over the over next 2 years. There's 159 million more than for state construction. Um, there is legislation which authorizes a 1% local option. That is the word option, okay? That is something that the locality, Buckingham County Board of Supervisors, could decide to do. It's a
0321% local option sales tax to support school construction and it would be based on a referendum vote. We have not had a conversation with the Board of Supervisors or Mr. Carter regarding this, okay? Um, special education, 148 million over the next 2 years to increase special education add-on. Um and then it it even additional funds for students with more acute disabilities. And then there's 10 million more to expand funds for students with intense needs or CISNA programs uh to fund uh some of our students who attend private day private day placements. There's, you know, at-risk additional money for at-risk add on. There again, infrastructure and operations per pupil funds. There's additional money dedicated to the K-12 sales tax revenue. Uh the school breakfast, there's the reimbursement rate has increased. Um and then there's uh a
033joint subcommittee to review K-12 funding. There's money for that in the in the budget. There's also money that impacts early childhood. There's the child care subsidy program, the $137 million across 2 years. Um and then there's the employee child care assistance program, which is $25 million one-time funds. Um there's legislation establishing child care cost-saving initiative for individuals and uh family, state, and employers through FY 2030. I have not heard much about that. That's kind of a new thing. We'd have to receive more information on. And then like once I said once again, that 1% optional local sales tax, that is a referendum that the locality could choose to do if they wish to support school construction. We Again, we have not had any conversations about that yet. >> And the projections that we got were
034based on the state's projection of ADM, which is like 1544. So, we're at 16. We budget 1650, so that will also affect the total the final totals that we get. >> So, we should we could be asking for We will if our ADM holds where where it is now or maybe goes up a little, we would be needing to um um, seek additional funding from the county to meet the local required effort. And they and we and we had this conversation with them in February and again when we presented in March. So, we'll have to remind them of that, but this is something they knew could happen. And that is that increase is primarily, you know, initially due to the LCI re- changing, updating, and becoming higher number. Um, Excuse me. Um, thank you. Um,
035and they knew that that that and they knew that that could happen. >> Was there any kind of changes to the resource officers or that you have seen? Any kind of not through this to school resource >> Not through this budget. >> You mean the numbers of that we've been >> Well, the the money that they provide or anything. >> Okay. >> No, there's still there's still grants available out there. Um, and we'll be taking a look at that. >> Could be a fun year. >> So, there's no action required. This is simply just information. >> Okay. >> Just kind of giving you an update. I didn't want to wait till July 8th to to give you the first budget update. And we'll have more information to share July 8th. >> We have an anticipated
036date of Governor signing or vetoing or whatever. >> Hopefully before July >> Got to be before July 1st, I should >> Hopefully. >> Yeah, hopefully we're in good >> A week from today? >> So, while we're talking about meetings and things of that nature, I did want to remind you that uh, Mr. Hesslop and I will be presenting at the Board of Supervisors at their July meeting, which I thought was the 6th, but I've been told it's the 13th. So, Mr. Hesslop and I will be at the Board of Supervisors on the 13th to present our um, capital improvement summer projects and then let them know how much those projects cost and then ask seeking in writing request to transfer those funds to the various categories appropriate category. >> I have a question one of
037those the the tennis courts. I noticed that what I had read in one of the emails said that we didn't need three bids on the tennis court but it was a hundred twenty five thousand dollars. I was surprised. >> Yeah, it was an insurance claim Mr. Hester can speak to that. >> tennis courts >> Yes, the tennis courts we use Omnia partner with our vendor. They are already vetted so no three bids required. There there are Omnia partners. So in other words it's kind of an easy button. We don't have to go out for the bids. There are all those bids are already vetted and we can use those. >> So is the reason we didn't the reason that we can use them without bidding out is is because they was paid by insurance? >>
038This is an insurance >> Except that's completely separate. It was very blessed that it is that the insurance company did pay that because of the insurance has nothing to do with that. It's an Omnia partner that's already it's kind of like using a GSA. They're already pre-vetted for due diligence. I did seek others. We we don't have that many folks that will come out and actually work on tennis courts is sort of a dying art. So the the ones that we did get were we'll just say we'll use the word substantially higher than than the one we chose to go with. >> I think I appreciate that and I just wanted that to be public because it is it is a big ticket item and normally something a hundred twenty five thousand dollars or so
039we're going to bid it out. >> That's exactly right. We did our best to be able to do that and do diligence even though we didn't have to. So thank >> Our total cost was a thousand dollars for the insurance policy. >> Thank you for that. Any other board business to come before us? I did want to remind everybody that we're having the America 250 celebration at the courthouse on Saturday, June 27th at 11:00 a.m. In case anybody wants to come out. I'll be there. I don't know what all we're going to do, but Come on out and celebrate. Let's celebrate. All right. So, we will be adjourned until July