It is Mathews County’s single largest employer with an annual budget in excess of $13.7 million. It is also tasked with the job of taking care of and developing the county’s most valuable resource—the nearly 1,100 young men and women that pass through its doors each day.

Whether you are a parent of a student at one of the county’s three schools, a local business owner who relies on a skilled and trained workforce, or a county taxpayer who wants to be sure money is being spent wisely, you have a vested interest in the actions of the Mathews County School Board.

The school board is responsible for hiring and overseeing the division’s teachers and support staff, establishing policies governing both its employees and students, and ensuring that all students receive a high quality education. Right now, the school board is in the midst of one of its most important jobs: drawing up a budget for the coming fiscal year. The board has already a couple work session...