Highland Supervisors Hear Public Input On School Budget

Monterey, VA – As the Highland board of supervisors considers options for balancing the budget, the school system is looking to avoid cuts that will reduce the number of teachers. At this weeks school board meeting, superintendent Percy Nowlin reported that the current school system budget shortfall is nearly $250,000 and he noted that is equivalent to about 5 teacher positions. He went on to say that loss of 5 teachers would cause the school system to lose state accreditation.

The school board returned 300,000.00 to the county last year. That money was set aside for needed capital improvements to the school. But teacher and parent Sue Cornelius asked the Supervisors to put that money towards the shortfall and put off the capital improvements for a while.

The board of supervisors is in the process of scheduling a meeting with the school board to see how to address the budget shortfall. He says they want to look at both short and long term planning for the schools. But he says the state dictates a much of what they can and can’t do.

In other actions, the board passed a motion to have the county administrator draft a letter of appreciation to the national guard members who came to highland county last month when the snow was at its worst, to help many members of the community.

Supervisor Rexrode reported that the US postal service is officially moving forward in the approval process for the new Williamsville post office location adjacent to the firehouse.

The board of supervisors will be meeting multiple times through the rest of March to develop a budget. Stay tuned to Allegheny mountain radio for news of these meeting dates and reports on board actions.