Chesterfield County just elected five new school board members. One of their first goals of the coming year is to prepare the budget.
Newly elected school board member Dorothy Heffron says she’d like to see more funding for preventative maintenance and hopes to get public support for a meal’s tax. She says the county takes in over 50 new students per month and that extra tax revenue could help.
“Conceivably we could build a school a year,” Heffron said.
Heffron says more money is also needed to train staff in how to bridge gaps in learning for students who are economically disadvantaged.
“So that they can have the same opportunities for success that our students who are coming from more advantaged homes," she added.
According to the Virginia Department of Education, more than 20 Chesterfield County schools receive federal funds to help low-income students.
Once a school budget is finalized, it goes to the Board of Supervisors for final approval in March.
