Amherst County school board adopts scaled-back budget, cuts bus, maintenance vehicle and painting project

The Amherst County School Board approved a pared-down budget plan after an extended discussion about staffing, capital needs and the county's contribution to the schools' request. The board voted to adopt "Option 2," which combines modest cuts to newly proposed instructional positions with reductions to capital-improvement projects, producing an estimated $552,113 in savings.

Board Chair (speaker 1) framed the choice as a shortfall decision: "Based on where we are today, we will be $500,000 short of what we said we needed for our budget," he said, summarizing the gap that remained after the Board of Supervisors approved $1.1 million for schools. Chair and administration repeatedly cautioned the board not to rely on uncertain future state or county increases when finalizing the budget.

Administration said the district's hiring timeline and equipment needs informed their recommendation. Dr. Houghton (speaker 2) told the board the district risks losing qualified applicants if it delays authorizing new positions: "If we wait till June, honestly, we're not going to get them," she said, urging the board to allow advertising and hiring where possible.

Option 2 preserves most instructional additions while trimming some proposed new positions and capital buys. Under the adopted package the board will:

- Remove one of the two proposed instructional assistants (IAs) for Madison Heights and one IA for Central (reducing some new IA positions);
- Remove one of the two proposed CTE teachers from this year's additions (keeping one in place);
- Remove one bus from the proposed bus purchases (estimated savings about $150,000);
- Remove one maintenance vehicle (approximately $60,000 savings);
- Postpone a building painting project at an elementary school (approximately $180,000 savings).

Taken together, those changes were presented as producing roughly $552,113 in savings, slightly more than the board's $500,000 target. The motion to accept Option 2 was made by a board member (speaker 14) and passed by voice vote; the chair announced, "Motion carries." The board noted that the package is contingent on the Commonwealth's final budget action; if the state does not approve the 3% pay increase assumed in planning, the district would need to revisit staffing and compensation choices.

Administration and board members said the chosen approach keeps the focus on instruction while deferring some capital spending to a later year if possible. The administration committed to monitor state and county decisions and to return to the board with adjustments if new funds or additional shortfalls emerge.

The board directed administration to implement Option 2 and to continue outreach to the Board of Supervisors about potential additional funding; members emphasized transparency with the community about what was deferred and why. The board's action finalizes the FY plan as adopted at the meeting but explicitly leaves room to amend once the Commonwealth's allocations are finalized.