Board clears the way for school improvements
While the Tazewell County School board is moving forward with plans for several projects, the board of supervisors had concerns about how they will be paid for.
During its June 16 budget workshop, the board dealt with a request to release sequestered funds to cover contracts for bathroom renovations at all three county high schools at $2,182,500, a wall at Tazewell High for $2,254,550, and appropriate $190,00 buying bleachers from Grundy High School for Graham High School.
County Administrator Eric Young explained to the board that the restroom and wall project were to be budgeted for the coming year. The money for the bleachers will be appropriated in the current budget. Young said the fund balance of the sequestered money would not cover all those items. He recommended that the board approve the requests with the understanding that the school board will cover any shortfall on the bathroom, wall, and the Tazewell Middle School HVAC projects.
Board Chairman Chuck Presley asked that Young send an email to school board chairman Erik Robinson and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Chris Stacy explaining that paying all the requests exceeds the money in the sequestered account.
The email would also explain that the supervisors will approve the $190,000 for bleachers contingent upon the school board agreeing to cover any additional costs on the other projects going forward. The motion passed 3-1 with John Rhudy absent.
During its June 25 meeting the board received a letter from Stacy assuring them any budget deficit for those projects would be covered out of the 2027 budget.
[In other action the board:
*Approved a resolution saying an electric motor rewinding company is a suitable business to locate in the Bluefield Industrial Park. The resolution is part of the company’s application for a permit from the Department of Environmental Quality.
*Heard from Sherry Cook of Bluefield about the Hope House program that is being established to offer services for depression, suicide prevention, and addiction. The group is using a building in downtown Bluefield.
*Approved the school board’s request to move $215,327.27 from the debt service account to the food service account to pay for a walk-in freezer/cooler for Graham High School.
