Council approves $18.63M school supplemental appropriation, adds $15.2M in city capital for buildings

The Hopewell City Council approved a supplemental appropriation requested by Hopewell Public Schools to add roughly $18.63 million in additional federal, state and local funding to the school division's fiscal year 2026 budget.

Janelle English, director of finance for Hopewell Public Schools, told council members the school division had added $3.43 million in new grants (including an aspiring educator grant and teacher-effectiveness and dual-enrollment grants) and had included $15.2 million from the city to fund capital projects at Carter Woodson and Hopewell High School.

Ms. English provided updated totals: the operating budget would be $76,345,087, the building and bus replacement fund $19,258,422, and the combined Hopewell Public Schools budget $100,887,456.

Council action and vote: A motion to amend the FY2025-26 Hopewell Public Schools operating budget by the amounts presented carried by roll call with Councilor Weeks recorded as abstaining; the final recorded vote was 6 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.

Why it matters: The additional funds will allow the division to spend newly awarded grants and to begin or continue capital work that district leaders said is prioritized for the high school and Carter Woodson.

Requests for follow-up: Council asked Ms. English to send a prioritized list of the $15.2 million in city-funded projects so council members can see the sequence of planned capital work beyond the high school.

The meeting record shows the public hearing was opened and closed with no public speakers; the council adopted the budget amendment at the same meeting.