02-18-2025 Joint Meeting with School Board - FINAL
PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ JOINT MEETING WITH
SCHOOL BOARD
February 18, 2025
VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors' ("Board") Joint Meeting with
the School Board was held on February 18, 2025, in the Board Meeting Room, 39 Bank Street, SE,
Chatham, Virginia 24531.
CALL TO ORDER (2:00 PM)
Dalton called the Meeting to Order at 2:00 PM
ROLL CALL
The following Board Members were present:
Darrell W. Dalton – Chairman, Callands-Gretna District
Robert M. Tucker, Jr. – Vice-Chair, Banister District
Kenneth L. Bowman - Chatham-Blairs District
Timothy W. Dudley - Staunton River District
Eddie L. Hite, Jr. - Dan River District
William V. (“Vic”) Ingram - Tunstall District
Murray W. Whittle - Westover District
The following School Board Members were present:
Kelly H. Merricks – Vice-Chair, Dan River District
Mark R. Shields – Chatham-Blairs District
Willie T. Fitzgerald – Banister District
George V. Henderson – Tunstall District
Kevin W. Mills – Westover District
Don C. Moon – Staunton River District
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion to approve Agenda.
RESULT: 7-0 (Approve)
MOVER: Ingram
SECONDER: Tucker
AYES: Dalton, Tucker, Bowman, Dudley, Hite, Ingram, Whittle
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
NEW BUSINESS
a. Schools 1% Sales Tax Projects Presentation
Dr. Jones Dr. Jones stated the sales tax referendum passed in December 2022 and is expected to
raise $68 million over 19 years, with $3.6 million collected in the first year. The school division's
first priority for the sales tax funds is $6.3 million for security vestibules and detached gyms at 14
schools. The second priority is $30.9 million for HVAC and window replacements at 5 elementary
schools. The third priority is $6.5 million to add 12 classrooms at Kentuck Elementary School.
Additional funds will be used to add classrooms at other elementary schools to eliminate mobile
units, costing $14 million. The full presentation can be found on the County's website at
www.pittsylvaniacountyva.gov.
b. School Division's Budget Request Presentation
Dr. Jones also presented to the Board the School's Budget request for the upcoming year. Jones
highlighted that 100% of the schools are fully credited, exceeding the state average of 86%. He
also shared data on assessment scores, showing that the school division has exceeded the state
average in all tested areas since 2021. The school division is in the top 13-14% for reading, and
top 11% for mathematics among all school divisions. The School Board emphasized the
importance of being able to offer competitive salaries to attract and retain high-quality teachers
and support staff. They noted that surrounding school districts are proposing larger salary
increases, putting Pittsylvania County at a disadvantage. The school division's total budget
priorities add up to around $7.5 million in additional funding needs. Members of the School Board
stated that increased investment in staff compensation and other needs is critical to maintaining
the high performance and standards of the school system. The full presentation can be found on
the County's website at www.pittsylvaniacountyva.gov.
ADJOURNMENT
Tucker adjourned the Meeting at 3:12 PM.