by AnnGardner Eubank
CLARAVILLE—Despite the approaching deadline for finalizing a fiscal year 2025-26 budget, the Northumberland School Board did not address the status during a Monday, June 9, meeting.
In the wake of financial and administrative turmoil, the school board stayed silent on the division’s current state of fiscal management and the troubling proposed budget that’s caused uproar from the community and board of supervisors.
Several weeks ago, superintendent Dr. Karen Leslie presented a proposed budget totaling $22,655,990 to the board of supervisors. Leslie was told significant cuts needed to be made before a budget could be adopted and appropriated.
According to the Code of Virginia 22.1-93, “The governing body of a municipality shall each prepare and approve an annual budget for educational purposes by May 15 or within 30 days of the receipt by the county or municipality of the estimates of state funds….
