The Mathews County School Board unanimously approved a request to the county on Tuesday night, asking supervisors for roughly $260,000 to replace the two boilers (minus the burner units) at Mathews High School.
Back in December, one of the school’s two boilers developed a fairly major leak. Fortunately, the school has a redundant system and the other boiler was able to keep the school operating. However, a contractor evaluating the system said that the boilers are at “end of life,” according to superintendent of schools Nancy Welch.
The school will be able to keep one boiler running while the other is being replaced, Welch said. Funding for this capital project, she said, is “definitely not” in the operating budget, explaining the need for the supervisors’ request.
Speaking of the budget, Welch reviewed the latest revisions to the 2023-2024 budget, following the level funding from the county. The amended budget includes an overall 2.5 percent cost of living increase for all employees (1.5 percent raise plus one step, or roughly 1 percent, for years of service). Other changes include the elimination of the proposed 3-year-old pre-kindergarten program, reducing school board office staff by one position, reducing one elementary school teacher and one MHS teacher, and a reduction of two bus routes.
Tuesday’s meeting, which was held in the MHS media center, began with presentations on the recently completed spring sports season at MHS and comments from Mathews Kiwanis Club president Randall Casciello and Thomas Hunter Middle School teacher Michelle Williams.
During his presentation on the spring sports season, MHS athletic director Josh Grein was asked about the status of the upcoming fall football season. He said that two meetings were held in April and May to gauge interest, with 21 students showing up in the first meeting and 18 in the second. Of the 18 at the May meeting, nine of them were either rising eighth graders or rising ninth graders.
While the possibility of a JV program is “not completely off the table,” there is little hope for varsity football in the fall. “That does not look good,” Grein said.
He said his number-one concern is the safety of the students. “If we don’t get 25 [participants], there is a big problem,” Grein said.
School board member Linda Hodges asked what needs to change for football to return to MHS. “I think it needs to start at a younger age … that’s where it needs to begin,” he said, speaking of youth football programs. Hodges asked if this problem is being experienced in other jurisdictions. “Absolutely,” Grein replied.
School board member John Priest asked if there has been any consideration of eight-man football. “The topic has come up,” Grein said, pointing out that Christchurch School is poised to have its own eight-man football program.
Casciello spoke about the newly reformed Mathews Kiwanis Club and its efforts to begin service leadership programs in all three county schools (Key Club at MHS, Builders Club at THMS and K-Kids at Mathews Elementary).
Williams addressed the board about the success of the Family and Consumer Science program and the performance of her students at the FCCLA State Conference, where they won two first-place trophies and a third-place trophy. She credited the community for helping her get these programs off the ground. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” she said.
During the meeting, the school board spoke about plans to institute a strict policy concerning student use of cell phones. The board is considering a policy that would exclude students having cell phones in their possession during the school day, with the exception of those students who require the device for medical purposes (and, in that case, the student could only use the device for that purpose and a letter from the doctor needs to be filed with the school).
“If you drive to school, it stays in the car. If you take the bus, it stays home,” school board Bobby Dobson said. “I don’t know how much simpler you can get.”
Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, the school board held a meet and greet with Dr. David S. Daniel, the division’s new superintendent, who will take over the role from Welch beginning July 1.
Welch still has one final meeting to serve as superintendent—the board will hold its end-of-year meeting next Thursday, June 29, beginning at 9 a.m. in the school board office conference room. The board’s next monthly meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 18, at 6 p.m. in the MHS Media Center.