By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt County Public Schools (BCPS) School Board held its regular meeting last Thursday evening in Fincastle at the BCPS Administration Offices.
File photo
James River High School Athletic Director Chase Davidson introduced VHSL 1st Team All-State Track and Fielder Kaia Binns to the board. Binns won honors for her third-place performances in the 100-meter and 200-meter events.
Superintendent Dr. Janet Womack delivered her first report, highlighting key developments across the division. She opened by reflecting on Governor Glenn Youngkin’s June 26 visit to Botetourt County Public Schools, during which he signed House Bill 2720, allowing rural school districts with fewer than 4,500 students to explore alternative student transportation methods.
“The governor was super-personable,” Womack said. “We had children present. He took the time to talk to the children about how a bill becomes a bill and even helped one of them put their shoes on. It was a good time.”
Womack shared that BCPS is “already exercising flexibility in transportation” when asked by Buchanan School Board representative Jenny Wilson if BCPS would be able to utilize the new bill in 2025-26. She explained that the school division already uses 11 vans and is partially implementing the new law. The bill may eventually require a school board vote, depending on how it’s applied, but it provides flexibility—such as the possibility of sharing transportation services with neighboring divisions. Other regional superintendents, including those from Rockbridge and Alleghany, also attended the bill signing.
Valley District School Board representative Tim Davidick shared his appreciation of the “homegrown bill,” thanking Delegate Terry Austin for being the lead on the bill and helping get it passed.
The new legislation will ease student transportation challenges in rural districts like BCPS by allowing alternative options that don’t require commercial driver’s licenses. State and local leaders, including Del. Austin, Senator Chris Head, and State Superintendent Emily Anne Gullickson, joined the Governor to celebrate the measure aimed at expanding access to educational opportunities.
In budget and finance news, Womack reported that BCPS will receive $2 million for capital improvements as part of the new Google Data Center investment. The finance team is also working with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to complete the 2024 Excess Cost Report. Womack shared that this topic will be one of the items addressed with County Administration during a scheduled meeting this week.
Davidick asked the superintendent to urge administrators to see that the $2 million for capital improvements provided by Google is for “additional dollars to the school system and not a replacement for funding that (the county) would already be giving to (BCPS).”
The human resources department has been busy onboarding staff for the 2025-2026 school year. A current list of job openings is available on the division website under the tab on the right side of menu bar that reads “Work for BCPS” (bcpsva.schoolspring.com/).
Health services provided training for aides supporting extended school year and summer programs. Instructionally, one student graduated this summer receiving their diploma at Lord Botetourt High School, and the Summer Academy supported 183 students across elementary and middle school levels.
Maintenance and operations staff completed several infrastructure upgrades, including connecting a new well at Eagle Rock Elementary, replacing a press box roof at Central Academy Middle, and installing a new electrical panel at BTEC. Ongoing summer maintenance is preparing facilities for the coming school year.
Technology teams reconfigured classroom tech at four schools and submitted the annual Master Schedule Collection to the state, ensuring accurate data for reporting and accountability.
Director of Operations Andy Dewease reported that the roof at Buchanan Elementary School will soon be repaired, the new HVAC at Breckinridge will soon be installed, and the water monitoring at Eagle Rock Elementary School has seen improvement and that the last monitoring sample passed on both lead and copper levels.
The BCPS School Board will meet again August 14.
