Pittsylvania County schools request $2.2 million in local funds, cite strong SOL outcomes

Superintendent Tim Mayhew presented Pittsylvania County Schools’ 2024–25 academic outcomes and a budget request to a joint meeting of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors and the School Board on Feb. 17, 2026. Mayhew said the district’s schools “scored higher than the state average” in multiple subjects and noted that all 18 schools are fully accredited.

Mayhew opened with highlights of extracurricular and career-technical programs, from band, fine arts and welding to a cybersecurity program and a 20-program Career and Tech Center. He told the boards the district missed 13 school days due to recent weather but that staff provided meals and remote instruction during closures. “What we are asking is this from our locality to maintain the 6% above minimum,” Mayhew said, summarizing the fiscal request.

Why it matters: Mayhew framed the requests as investments in student safety and facilities and as part of long-term capital work funded by the county’s 1% sales tax referendum, which is restricted to school capital. He listed seven prioritized projects (security vestibules, HVAC/window replacements, and additions to remove mobile units among them) with a current project total of $54,643,256.

Key numbers and requests: Mayhew reported $9,360,000 collected from the sales tax as of Jan. 2026 and projected approximately $75,000,000 over the full collection period (July 2023–July 2042). He said the district had secured about $9,700,000 from the School Construction Assistance Program (referred to in the presentation as SCAF/SCAP). For operating and personnel items, Mayhew proposed a 3–3.5% salary increase (described as “2% cost of living plus a step”), continuing specialty support positions funded previously by CARES/ARP, funding for cybersecurity and Canvas licensing, mobile metal-detection options and other operational needs. He placed staff-priority requests at $4,500,000 and briefed that maintaining 6% above the state minimum requires an additional $1,300,000 from the locality; he said meeting staff priorities would need another $902,000 and that “the total ask is 2 point $200,000.”

Board reaction and process: Supervisors asked for a copy of the presentation; Mayhew agreed to provide it. Supervisor Lay asked about the timetable to remove trailers at Hart Elementary; Mayhew said removal is planned and that the district has applied for an engineering grant (referred to as a “SASSE” grant) to study renovation options. Supervisor Bowman asked about enrollment; Mayhew said the district’s ADM was about 7,300 and noted a statewide decline of roughly 2 percent. Supervisor Beltran asked about expanding trades training; Mayhew said building-trades modules are under way and the district hopes to add plumbing and related skills.

Fiscal context: Finance Committee Chair and Board Chair Tucker warned the boards that the local composite index and state funding changes create a funding gap the county will need to close. “There’s only 1 or 2 ways to…close that loop,” Tucker said, “You have to either cut the programs of school or … raise taxes.” Tucker said the board intends to avoid cutting school programs and urged early public education about budget choices as the county moves into the budget season.

Votes and formal actions: Earlier in the meeting the board unanimously approved the meeting agenda (motion by Supervisor Dalton; second by Supervisor Ingram). No formal vote on the school funding request occurred during the session; Mayhew’s presentation will inform the upcoming budget process.

What’s next: Mayhew provided materials and staff will work with the finance committee and the full boards during the budget season; the presentation copy was requested for distribution to supervisors.

Sources: Presentation and discussion as delivered by Superintendent Tim Mayhew at the joint meeting of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors and the School Board on Feb. 17, 2026.