A request to add computer programming courses to the school division’s curriculum was the only comment heard during Tuesday night’s public hearing on the Mathews County School Board’s proposed $12.8 million budget.

School board members will return to the Mathews High School media center next Tuesday to hold its regular monthly meeting. At that time, the board is expected to approve its draft budget and forward it to county supervisors for their consideration.

Werlie Hendrix was the only speaker at Tuesday night’s hearing. He asked board members to consider taking steps to offer computer programming classes and to emphasize these offerings in the lower grade levels.

He said he recently spoke with a top executive at Bank of America, who told him that that firm has difficulty finding enough qualified computer programmers, even though starting salaries are $100,000 or more.

Hendrix said that the school division offers Spanish and French classes to students w...