On the same night the Mathews County School Board adopted its budget for 2021-2022 calling for increases in staff as well as what would work out to a 4 percent raise for all employees, members hedged their bets by also approving an amended Reduction In Force policy should the need arise to cut staff positions.

During Tuesday night’s meeting in the Mathews High School auditorium, the school board voted by a 4-1 margin to approve the $16.2 million budget proposal, which will now head to county supervisors for their consideration.

The budget calls upon the county to provide an additional $1,259,277 compared its current contribution of $8,668,860.Vice chair Jeanice Sadler cast the only vote against the proposed budget, saying she wasn’t comfortable seeking a pay raise for school employees while many county taxpayers, at the same time, are struggling financially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

School board chairman John Priest indicated that the numbers would likely change o...