Henrico School Board to review new Capital Improvement Plan, develop legislative priorities

At a 2:30 p.m. work session Oct. 24, Henrico School Board members will review the proposed 2025-2026 Capital Improvement Plan, which will provide funding for certain building maintenance and construction projects.

Last year, the school board approved a $21 million funding request for the Henrico Board of Supervisors, asking for $9 million more than the previous year to address aging air conditioning units and roofs. The board of supervisors ultimately approved $19 million for Henrico Schools’ maintenance needs, as well as additional funding for HCPS school rebuild and construction projects.

Last year’s approved final CIP provided $10 million for school mechanical and roofing repairs, $6 million for school bus replacements, $2 million for technology improvements, and $1 million for playground replacements. The board of supervisors also provided funding to support school rebuild projects for Quioccasin Middle, Charles M. Johnson Elementary, Jackson Davis Elementary, and Longan Elementary, as well as funding for the creation of a new Environmental “Living Building” at Wilton Farm.

School board members also will identify priorities for the 2025 Virginia General Assembly legislative session at Thursday’s work session. The school board’s priorities last year included:

• Supporting legislation that allows for the expansions of dual enrollment courses in high schools;
• Advocating for more funding and flexibility for English Learner services;
• Supporting state funding to address critical teacher shortages, including raising teacher pay to the national average;
• Supporting funding to increase school-based mental health professionals and other staff;
• And other priorities related to academics, funding, teacher recruitment, school safety and student wellness, and local school board autonomy.

During the 2024 legislative session, HCPS successfully passed a bill that allowed individuals seeking a teaching endorsement in special education to pursue a provisional license through the career switcher route, which was previously prohibited for special education. The Henrico delegation also successfully passed Lucia’s Law, which imposes more punishments on parents or guardians who fail to safely store their firearms away from minors, in honor of Lucia Bremer, a Henrico student shot and killed in 2021.

At a 6:30 p.m. monthly meeting later on Thursday, the school board will also vote on revisions to HCPS employee drug regulations and drug testing policies. The changes would add marijuana and cannabis oil to the list of prohibited substances, but allow employees who are prescribed marijuana-based products to meet with the school system's chief Human Resources officer, who would make the ultimate decision on whether taking such prescriptions would be allowed.

The revisions would also clarify the time during which possession or consumption of alcohol and drugs is prohibited, which extends from when the employee initially reports to work until the time they leave work, including all breaks and meals regardless of whether they are taken in or outside of the workplace.

Members of the public will also have the opportunity to speak to the school board at the monthly meeting’s 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.