After last week’s budget work session with the Board of Supervisors, the School Board feels hopeful about the upcoming budget season.
“There was connection, communication, a better understanding on their part as well as ours,” said School Board Member Brenda Pace. “We still have a lot to work, but we’re at a place where there is communication with the community, and with the Board of Supervisors.”
The school board voted to reintroduce a second public comment period into their meetings, both in response to a request to do so from meeting attendees and in anticipation of controversial changes to the budget.
“In particular, with what’s facing us in January, February and March – there will be things discussed at the board meetings that people have a reaction to, and I think that we do need to hear these things,” said School Board Member Carol Tracy Carr.
“We’re going to be making some decisions that affect a lot of people that work for us,” said Fluvanna County School Board Chair Camilla Washington. “We need to be mindful and sensitive to that information.”
January ramps up with the regular school board meeting on Jan. 9, followed by a school board seminar on Jan. 18, featuring presentations on student performance data, and various school programs to bring the newest school board member, Charles Rittenhouse, up to speed. Later in the month of January, the school board will meet once again with the Board of Supervisors for a joint budget work session. In addition, Washington will meet with legislators in Richmond on Jan. 24 to discuss with Del. Rob Bell, Del. Lee Ware, and Sen. Thomas Garrett issues pertaining to Fluvanna schools.
