BUDGET Continued from pg. 1
ment to meet the ever-changing needs and complex needs of our students and families….while doing everything in our power to care for those who take care of our children, our incredible employees.” Chickahominy Middle School principal Mark Beckett echoed those sentiments.
“I’m here this evening to express our support and appreciation of the superintendent’s budget,” Beckett said. “As we all know and understand, the previous years during the pandemic have created many challenges. However, through every obstacle and the everyday pivots that teacher and every employee made…. rose to the challenge and continued to make a difference in
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The Mechanicsville Local
February 2, 2022
our children’s lives everyday,” he said. “We as the middle school team, thank Dr. Gill and his senior staff for creating a budget that shows their commitment to both students and staff of Hanover County schools.” Highlights of Gill’s proposed budget includes a 5% salary increase for all employees effective July 1, 2022, with longevity salary enhancements that could result in some employees receiving up to a 7% salary increase. The budget creates eight new positions to support student mental health, counseling and behavioral management and provides salary increases to some targeted areas. The plan also implements an assigned substitute plan for each campus and continues compensation for teachers who are forced to cover classes due to the substitute shortage. Two positions are planned to support workbased training programs and CTE, and provides advanced studies coordinator at each high school campus. A parttime safety coordinator is also included in the proposal. Gene Matthews, president of Hanover Education Association, said its members appreciated the cooperation of county and school leaders to compile this year’s budget and provide salary increases for all school employees. Hanover Professional Educators president Bill Callahan said, “Our associations emphatically support the improvements in the teachers’ salary scale,” he said. “Although all employees will receive a minimum 5% raise, additional funding will be spent to bolster the salaries of employees who have served HCPS the longest,” Callahan added. “This is a very positive step for county educators and one that our members greatly appreciate.”
INSIDE
The Local Pick:
Jacob Byers of CAP and JROTC joins U.S. Navy after years of service Contributed Report news@mechocal.com Jacob Byers, 1st lieutenant in both Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and JROTC, left last month for the next chapter of his life with the U.S. Navy. During his three years as a member of the Hanover Composite Squadron in the Civil Air Patrol, Byers participated in a total of three encampments and earned numerous awards, including the Crisis Service Award, which was established to recognize membership during periods when the entire organization was under significant stress responding to a nationwide emergency. He also volunteered at many CAP events and organized a cadet trip to the Naval Academy as his last big accomplishment with the CAP program. In addition to his active participation in CAP, Byers was also a member of the Atlee High School JROTC for four years prior to graduating. During that time, he participated in drill team events, raider team and color guard. Byers’ dedication to both CAP and JROTC will serve him well in a military career. He hopes to use the leadership skills he has gained to help him have a successful lifelong military career. He hopes to travel the world, meet a multitude of new people and learn as much as he can. For more information on
15 COMMUNITY Grace Christian School breaks ground on expansion project
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17 KING WILLIAM All-Metro player of the year Demond Claiborne
ALSO… Contributed photo
Atlee High School graduate Jacob Byers recently joined the U.S. Navy.
the Civil Air Patrol and the local Hanover Composite Squadron, contact the Recruiting and Retention Officer, Capt. James Wright at james.wright@vawg.cap. gov.
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