Voters in Lexington and Buena Vista signed off Tuesday on a 1 percent sales tax hike in both cities that will support school construction. With the funding secured, school officials say they can finalize plans and adjust their budgets to account for the new revenue.
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The 1% sales tax increase is slated to fund school construction and renovation projects in the region.
Voters in Buena Vista and Lexington are getting the chance to weigh in on a proposal to increase the sales tax by 1% to fund school construction. They’re also voting in three uncontested school board races.
Students at schools in Rockbridge County and Buena Vista will continue receiving free breakfast and lunch through a federal program that supports meals for students in low-income areas. The program has allowed schools to provide meals for every student and reduce food service debts through reimbursements from the Virginia Department of Education.
The district is planning to implement a P.E. lending library that would allow visually impaired students to participate in physical education through specialized gear. The equipment is being funded by a grant from the Virginia Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired, an advisory group that advocates for those with disabilities.
The Rockbridge Report’s Hadley Harbison sat down with Rick Bolling, who will take over as superintendent of Rockbridge County Public Schools on Jan. 1.
As cyber threats increasingly shape modern warfare, VMI is preparing cadets to defend against attacks in digital spaces. Supported by Department of Defense funding, the institute’s cybersecurity program trains students to identify, prevent, and respond to virtual threats that pose growing risks to national security.
The proposed 1% sales tax could raise an estimated $6.6 million over five years. The funding would go toward projects that include a new gymnasium at Rockbridge County High School and an HVAC System replacement at Lylburn Downing Middle School.
Southern Virginia University students can now earn a bachelor of science degree in biology – and they’ll be able to get a nursing degree soon. The programs aim to address Virginia’s demand for healthcare workers while preparing students for medical school and other health professions.
Lexington City Schools will revise its non-resident student policy after increased enrollment led to three returning students initially being placed on the waitlist this summer.