At a special year-end meeting last Thursday, the Mathews County School Board adopted a resolution asking county supervisors to allow the division to use the approximately $11,000 remaining in excess revenues to replace a dishwashing machine for the Lee-Jackson Elementary School cafeteria.

The board met at 7:30 a.m. in the school board office conference room to approve payment of its final claims for the 2010-2011 school year. With the payments being made, the school system ended the year with a $0 balance, based on its $12.3 million budget.

However, the school had $11,126.28 in "excess revenue"—unbudgeted money from sources such as federal Title I funding.

"It’s a little too close for comfort for me," vice chairman Jen Little said of working down to a zero balance. However, she added, it is "impressive how we were able to stay within budget with a very, very tight budget." She went on to praise the central office staff for their diligen...