Members of the Mathews School Board and Board of Supervisors broke bread on Tuesday evening, as the two boards had the opportunity to look over the school division’s proposed 2018-2019 budget.

The approximately $14.5 million budget—which includes $8.09 million in local funding—is expected to be approved by the school board when it meets this coming Tuesday in the Mathews High School media center. From there, it goes to county supervisors who will have the final say.

This week, school board members and supervisors began by sharing a meal catered by the school division’s cafeteria staff in the J. Murray Brooks Auditorium at Thomas Hunter Middle School. Following that, they walked to the school’s library, where superintendent of schools Nancy Welch provided an overview of this year’s budget request.

Welch explained that one of the main drivers behind this year’s proposed budget is an attempt to boost and equalize salaries for teachers and other...