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The Lexington City Council and School Board held a joint work session last Thursday to get an update from Lexington City Schools Superintendent Rebecca Walters on some of the schools finances, including capital projects and some proposed budget amendments.
Walters highlighted three capital projects at the schools that were recently completed. At Waddell Elementary School, a new portable sound system was purchased and upgrades were made to speakers at the school. The school was also re-keyed to be on a one-key system for security purposes. Those projects cost a combined $51,533. At Lylburn Downing Middle School and the School Board Offices, new security camera systems were installed for a total of $20,000.
Walters also noted two capital projects for consideration in the near future: repairing and upgrading the lockers at LDMS and upgrading the lighting system at both the middle school and school board office. Walters provided estimates for both projects, with the upgrades to the lighting system estimated to cost $37,000 and the locker repairs estimated to cost $9,175.
In addition to capital projects, several budget updates were also given. The schools fund had carryovers from previous budget years totaling nearly $1.2 million. In FY 2023, the schools had a budget surplus of $167,362.68. A proposed division of the surplus has it being divided four ways: $38,959.27 would be put toward future needs at Rockbridge County High School; $28,221.17 would be put toward textbooks; $50,182.24 would go toward future needs for Lexington City Schools; and the remaining $50,000 would carryover into FY 2024.
Also highlighted were several amendments to the FY 2024 budget that would be coming before the School Board at its next regular business meeting on Nov. 5, including an increase to the utilities line item and budgeting for a new paraprofessional position at LDMS and a part-time English language teacher.
The funds from Governor Glenn Youngkin’s All-In VA program will be added to the budget as well. Lexington will receive $173,579 through the program which will be used to increase tutoring opportunities, prepare for materials provided through the Virginia Literacy Act, and to address an increase in chronic absenteeism in the city’s schools. More details on how that money will be spent will be presented to the school board at its November meeting.
Walters also noted some items that were being considered as the schools begin working on the budget for FY 2025. Several staffing needs were noted, including adding funds to the budget for a reading specialist and parttime custodian at Waddell Elementary. Those positions were created during the pandemic and have been funded by money received through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), which will no longer be available in the upcoming fiscal year.
The School Board is also hoping to continue to increase salaries for its employees to provide competitive pay and is considering increasing the daily pay rate for substitute teachers and long-term substitutes, as well as including funds for summer school and curriculum work.
