Inside A3 Sheriff’s office says farewell to K-9 officer
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Powhatan heads to region finals
Vol. XXXV No.. 35
March 2, 2022
School board takes deeper dive into budget By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County School Board took the time in February to do a deep dive into the fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget to get a handle on it before decisions have to be made regarding a possible $680,000 in cuts to create a balanced budget. During all-day budget workshops held on Feb. 16 and 23, the school board went line by line in the FY 2023 operating budget to see how each department is spending its funds. School board members asked extensive questions about each department’s proposed spending, including their budget creation processes, a detailed look at line items, how those needs relate to state and federal grant funds, and any significant changes for the upcoming year. The in-depth review has all been leading up to the school board needing to make choices about an estimated $54 million budget that still has some significant unknowns. When Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, and the school board started discussing the budget several weeks ago,
he told them the bad news that key factors such as rising health care costs and a huge hit to the county’s Composite Index, which determines a school division’s ability to pay education costs fundamental to the Commonwealth’s Standards of Quality (SOQ), meant a possible $2.77 million budget dilemma. At the time, the school board had not received an update from the county on what county administrator Ned Smither and staff would be recommending to the board of supervisors as the local portion of the school division’s funding. Nor had it received the health insurance rate increase amount or the official state share based on the final adopted budget. The school division now knows it is facing a 19.1% health insurance increase coming in at $856,000, which is $26,000 less than anticipated, Jones told the board. The state funds won’t become official until the state budget is adopted. Jones said on Feb. 23 that staff members had seen the proposed House and Senate versions of the budget but had not received the calculation tool from the Virginia Department of Education that lets the school division know what it would be receiving in state funds with the House and Senate versions of the budget.
He added he expected to receive that calculation tool within the next few days. “From looking at the budgets, it looks like the Senate version added some additional support positions to help address the support cap, so that is good news. We don’t know what that dollar figure will be for us until we get the (calculation) tool,” he said. “The House version, there is some other language in there that may be helpful to us in terms of getting additional funding from the state, but we won’t know until we get that tool.” While the school board has not yet met with the board of supervisors to begin budget discussions, Jones said he recently heard from Smither that staff would be recommending the county increase its local contribution to schools by about $2.1 million. If the supervisors agree to that figure and other funding amounts remain the same, the school board is still looking at a budget that staff is currently estimating needs to be $683,904 leaner to be a balanced budget. At the end of the Feb. 23 workshop, chair Kim Hymel, who represents District 5, asked Jones how they would proceed in the face of such a significant amount see BUDGET, pg. 4
Wax museum brings history to life
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
As part of Field of Honor, the Rotary Club of Powhatan is selling U.S. flags that will be displayed at an event in June. Proceeds benefit local charities.
Rotary to hold Field of Honor PHOTOS BY LAURA McFARLAND
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
Harriet Tubman (Kelsie Ryman) and Albert Einstein (Michael Gibbs, were some of the famous people highlighted in the Fourth Grade Living Wax Museum at Powhatan Elementary on Feb. 24.
By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – With a simple push of a button, history came to life last week in Powhatan Elementary School’s fourth grade classes. Thanks to the Fourth Grade Living Wax Museum, the entire school was exposed to the stories of important figures past and present on Thursday, Feb. 24. Fourth grade teacher Abbi Williams said the grade level project to teach students about biographies was a massive
success and a great experience for everyone involved. “It was amazing. This group of kids has been so excited from the very beginning. I know they were a little bit nervous, but I think once they all came in and saw each other and how we are a big team together, it was amazing,” she said. The project saw each fourth grader getting to know all about an entertainer, athlete, astronaut, explorer, scientist, inventor, author, adventurer or other key see MUSEUM, pg. 8
Going for the gold
By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – The Rotary Club of Powhatan is hoping to have a panorama of red, white and blue blowing in the breeze this summer when it hosts its first Field of Honor display. Adapting to the way the COVID-19 pandemic has forced groups to rethink fundraising efforts, the civic organization chose to go a new direction this year in its efforts, Don Smith, public relations chair, recently explained during a visit to the Powhatan Chamber of Commerce. see FIELD, pg. 5
Residents show appreciation to postal worker
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Brenda Smith, center, reacts to Scottville residents surprising her to show their appreciation for her years of service.
By Laura McFarland PHOTO COURTESY OF POWHATAN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Powhatan Middle School sixth graders recently participated in 2022 Winter Olympics-themed projects. Showing off their Olympic torches are Danica Hirsch, Jane Holt, Henry Latimer, Yasmine Smith, Simon Woodard, Dallas Windsor, Braedon Hester, Wyatt Gould and Morgan Borgerding. Photos on page 5
Managing Editor
POWHATAN – As mail carrier Brenda Smith drove up to the gazebo near the entrance of the Scottville subdivision, she caught sight of the large group of people waiting for her and smiled in amazement. Pulling her mail truck up to the curb, she made sure to lock her vehicle and then see POSTAL, pg. 3