Inside A3 Board honors outstanding student musicians
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Powhatan field hockey earns first win over James River
Vol. XXXIV No. o. 39
March 31, 2021
County makes efforts on broadband expansion By Laura McFarland Editor
P
OWHATAN – Powhatan County is expected to substantially increase broadband connections for its residents to build on recent victories, but the level of connections that may be possible is dependent on some upcoming news. The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors held a workshop on Tuesday, March 23 focused entirely on broadband initiatives, which included one currently underway and other options being explored to make more progress in increasing connections in the county. The biggest update came from Firefly Broadband, which the county has been partnering with on efforts to increase connectivity in the Western end of Powhatan. Several plans were laid out that
show how the county could work toward bringing those connections. The board also heard an update on the progress made by Hosted Backbone LLC to lay infrastructure in a county-led broadband project and Port 80, an internet provider, to hook up customers. At the end of the presentations, the board members expressed appreciation to the internet providers and excitement about the projects they described. Bill Cox, who represents District 4, said it is “daunting still but exciting to feel like we are actually beginning to move.” “All we found were barriers for so many years. Everywhere where we turned was another barrier or a failure or a defeat,” he said. Mike Byerly, District 3, reaffirmed the board of supervisors’ commitment to bringing broadband to unserved residents
and thanked the internet providers for helping them accomplish that mission. However, he clarified that while the board will do the best it can do, “all we can do is the best we can do. We don’t control everything that happens, but we are going to put our best foot forward collectively as a board.”
Firefly Broadband Firefly Broadband is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative that was formed in 2018 to address the very real need they saw for people to have broadband access, said Gary Wood, Firefly president and CEO. Firefly has been working with localities PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND across Central Virginia to create broadGary Wood, president and CEO band projects, including Goochland and of Firefly Broadband, talks about Cumberland counties. see BROADBAND, pg. 8
his company’s partnership with Powhatan County on March 23.
School board adopts budget amid concerns about salary compression By Laura McFarland Editor
mon practice. If the county comes back with a figure that is less than the school board proposed, Jones said he would still recommend moving ahead with one of the school board’s main focuses in this budget cycle – employee compensation. Jones’ recommended budget includes a 5% salary increase for all employees as well as $127,183 to address salary compression for teachers, particularly those in steps 22 and above, which relates to their years of experience. For the last few meetings, the board discussed salary compression among its longestserving teachers, whose positions earn less now than an employee in the same position earned in 2008. With the 5% plus targeted raises for compression pay, those impacted
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
STEM coaches Lisa Brown, from left, Libbey Kitten, and Barbara Adcock are a huge part of why PCPS received an International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Program Excellence Award.
STEM program recognized at international conference By Laura McFarland
see SCHOOL, pg. 6
Editor
POWHATAN – Powhatan County Public Schools Elementary STEM Program was honored internationally last week with a Program Excellence Award. Outstanding technology and engineering programs from around the world, including Powhatan’s program, were honored by the International Technology
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County School Board voted unanimously last week to pass its fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget, sending it on to the board of supervisors for its approval. Following an intense discussion at the school board meeting on Tuesday, March 23, the members voted in two 5-0 votes to approve the operating budget at $50.55 million and the school food service budget at $1.43 million. While the budget discussion started with a brief look at numbers regarding salary increases, it quickly morphed into a dialogue about intentions versus following through on promises. A few main topics dominated the
conversation, starting with Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, suggesting the school board approve the budget as he proposed despite knowing the figures may not match up with the version suggested by county administrator Ned Smither. During a joint meeting with the board of supervisors on March 16, Smither proposed the school budget at $50.34 million, which represented a difference of $214,139 less in the county transfer. Jones said last week that in discussions with Smither, the latter said the difference in the budget figures will likely be narrowed. Jones recommended the school board approve its budget, which has to be done by April 1, and then continue to work on it as they get more information from the county, state, and federal governments, adding it is com-
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and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) at its 83rd annual Conference held March 22 to 27, which was held virtually. Twenty technology and engineering education programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels received ITEEA’s Program Excellence Award, according to a release from the association. Sponsored by ITEEA see STEM, pg. 5
Judges pick Berry to fill vacant District 2 position By Laura McFarland Editor
PHOTO BY BROOKS ANN SMITH
Powhatan High School crowned JaySun Carroll as this year’s Homecoming King and Emily Nuckols as Homecoming Queen. See more photos of the Homecoming Court on Page 6A.
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Circuit Court has named Tom Berry as the interim District 2 Board of Supervisors member. Berry, who has lived in Powhatan since 2011, said he was notified on Thurs-
day, March 25 that the judges of the 11th BERRY Circuit Court had chosen him to see BERRY, pg. 8
Supervisors approve mixed-use development in the Village By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors recently approved a rezoning case that will allow a mixed-use development with retail and multi-unit residential buildings to be constructed in the Village area. During their meeting on Monday,
March 22, the supervisors voted 3-1 in favor of approving a rezoning request for a mixed use development in the 4000 block of Old Buckingham Road. The request was to rezone 9.757 acres from Agricultural-10 (A10) to Village Center Planned Development (VC-PD). Chairwoman Karin Carmack, see DEVELOPMENT, pg. 4
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Developer Rick Smith speaks to the board of supervisos about the Depot at Fighting Creek, which was approved at the March 22 meeting.