Supervisors allege backdating on school improvement plan; request investigation

Essex County supervisors raised an allegation on June 3 about the handling of a school improvement grant plan that the county packet showed as signed and dated May 11. Supervisors said that board video and minutes show the school board did not approve the plan during its May 12 meeting, and that the May 11 signature date therefore creates a discrepancy that must be explained.

At the work session a supervisor described the dated signature as "a false entry of records" and cited Code of Virginia 18.2-472, which the supervisor said could expose responsible parties to criminal penalties for falsifying official records. School staff told supervisors the signature on the submitted plan was from an assistant principal who signed while the principal was out of the country and suggested the version uploaded to the packet may have been the wrong file; staff denied intentionally backdating or falsifying records and said they would investigate and provide clarification.

Supervisors said they want an immediate, formal explanation and documentation showing who signed what and when, plus any stakeholder-engagement records required by the grant. The county chair and supervisors asked school leaders to resolve the discrepancy quickly and to produce corrected records or a written explanation prior to the next round of budget or grant approvals.

The June 3 discussion did not include a formal determination; supervisors said the matter may require review in closed session and consultation with counsel and that they expected to see corrected documentation or an investigation report as a follow-up item.