Henrico School Board to hold public hearing on budget, give update on mental health plan

The Henrico School Board will hold a 5 p.m. public hearing to seek community input on the recommended 2025-2026 budget after their 3:30 p.m. work session Feb. 13.

The $914 million proposed budget, which the board will vote on Feb. 27, would be a $33 million increase from last year’s budget, adding more security officers to open campus-style schools and more ESL teachers. The school board will also have a written forum for comments on the budget along with the in-person hearing.

At the work session, Henrico Schools staff will give an update on Henrico CARES – the division’s new comprehensive mental healthcare plan launched last March. This past school year, HCPS added five new mental health staff and launched partnerships with online care coordinator service Care Solace and teletherapy program Hazel Health.

Since this past October, families have used Care Solace to schedule 279 appointments and 106 students are either actively participating in Hazel health or have their first session scheduled. Data shows that the majority of participants for both services report struggling from anxiety or depression.

HCPS staffers also will give an update on the new Career Ladder program for school bus drivers, instructional assistants, and office professionals – which offers staff free professional development and can lead to pay increases. So far, the program has 567 participants in 33 different courses on topics such as safety, de-escalations tactics, and trauma-informed practices.

Members of the public will also have the opportunity to comment using the school board’s written public forum.

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.