NELSON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD SEPTEMBER UPDATE
NELSON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SUMMARY
as of September 24, 2025
During the September 11, 2025 School Board meeting, Superintendent Hester spent considerable time discussing what the School administration has done to evaluate other sites for School central office (CO) staff. As was discussed at a County Board of Supervisors workshop on August 26, 2025, either the County administrative staff or the School CO staff need to find new space to make room for the Commonwealth attorney and other court-related offices to move into the Courthouse complex. The Schools alternative site need has been informally discussed by the Board of Supervisors since December 2024 with a desire to move as early as summer 2026 but was formalized with a memo to the Dr. Hester on 9/2/2025 that included a less urgent timeframe to relocate (12-18 mos).
As discussed by Dr. Hester and the School Board members, the Schools have occupied the wing in the Courthouse complex that was specifically designed for them (and County Administration) for over 60 years. They are very concerned about both the budget and time frame for the move. The Schools, by state law, have no reserve funds or taxing authority and, therefore, any building purchases, renovations, or moving expenses would have to be paid for by the County. They are in continuing conversation with the County Administrator McGarry but the School Board feels a need to meet with their Board of Supervisor colleagues about this as soon as possible (perhaps as part of a larger capital improvement plan).
In the meantime, Dr. Hester has worked with the School's on-call architectural firm and determined the Schools need about 6000 square feet to include future needs as the Schools do not want to make multiple moves. She took the material given to her by the County about alternative sites and evaluated each one:
● Rockfish River Elementary School - there is less available space now because enrollment has increased to 300; renovation would be needed (with separate security and entrances) and would require renovation to convert back into instructional space if enrollment were to continue to increase. This option is less desirable because it would put Central Office furthest away from 80% of the division’s students.
● NC High School complex - reconfiguration and renovation would be required to add separate CO space. A separate building could also be built on-site specifically for Central Office.
● School Maintenance/storage building - the space is too small and would need to be gutted. This has a domino effect because where would the Maintenance department go?
● Nelson Center - the County is reviewing this option at least for the short term
● DSS building, which will be vacated in 12-18 months - these are 25 year old trailers that would be temporary and only 4400 square feet
● The old CVEC building at 400 Front Street is being considered by McGarry
● Other properties like Blue Moon or the former Johnson Senior Center - some are too small and all would require extensive renovation.
The School Board members each had thoughtful comments knowing that they must fit the Schools needs with the County’s, that the building must be as safe and secure as other school facilities, the budget for this County-wide need must not come at the expense of the school operating budget which is for the education of Nelson County students, and School facilities are often open 24/7 and must be welcoming for visitors and potential staff who would interview there.
During the School Board (SB) meeting there were a number of other items discussed. As a follow-up to the August SB meeting, Dr. Hester announced that the MACA after school program has started at both elementary schools. She also announced that a large number of volunteer applications are being processed so volunteers need to be patient. There have been a number of community engagement events in the last month including SNAP flyers for families struggling to pay for the rising cost of groceries, grandparents day at both elementary schools, football and volleyball games at the secondary complex, an evening motivational speaker on September 15 at the HS auditorium, and 9-11 Remembrance events, especially at the middle school. There is a middle school musical “Something Rotten” performing on October 30 and November 1.
Dr. Hester and a School Readiness (United Way) representative updated the SB on the Headstart program. In early spring 2024, the Charlottesville-based MACA made the news by releasing the Headstart grant that maintained local Headstart programs, including those in Nelson County. NCPS has been working hard to make sure they had preschool classes in place with the temporary grant provider (Community Development Institute) but as of 10/1/2025, NCPS will manage the Headstart program with their own school staff for 17 preschoolers at both elementary schools. NCPS and United Way have a 60 day transition window to formalize this program and fully take advantage of their five year grant.
Each school gave a very thorough analysis to the SB of their SOL results from last year and their plans for improvement for this year. (See the August newsletter for the division-wide presentation.)
–Assistant Principal Colby Lopez of Rockfish River ES shared the following generally positive SOL results with a plan to improve the rising Chronic Absenteeism problem this year.
Principal Heather Cofflin of Tye River ES shared the following positive growth assessment results from last year (anything above a 1 point difference shows that they grew by over a grade level), even though TRES continues to remain slightly below the state average in Reading and Science but higher than the state in Math and Virginia Studies. They have had an incredible drop in Chronic Absenteeism (25.4% in 2022-23, 12.1% in 2023-24, 10.1% in 2024-25).
–New principal Hannah Collins of Nelson Co. Middle School shared how Reading, Math, and History SOL scores really improved - and are much higher than the state average. Only the Science SOL scores dropped (71 to 67% pass) and they will focus this year to bring them up to 72%. They are pleased that their Chronic Absenteeism continues to drop (26.2% in 2022-23, 15.1% in 2023-24, and 12.9% in 2024-25).
–CO Supervisor of Instruction Ryan Yarzebinski shared the Nelson Co. High School SOL pass rate information as well as impressive graduation data, including a 91.8% on-time graduation rate.
Les Cambell gave an update on capital projects. Thirty year-old Tye River ES experienced some fire suppression sprinkler issues that were resolved but will need to be more completely addressed in the next few years. The HS renovation project is progressing well with NCPS staff watching closely the impact of the project on hall lighting, smoke detection and camera coverage to ensure that the building remains safe throughout the project. Joyce Colburne from Honeywell answered numerous questions from the SB members about the continuing problems about the new HS chiller. Honeywell still has a temporary chiller in place and is carrying the expenses for all the repairs, inspections and chiller rental.
Dr. Hester had a final SB action item discussion on the potential need to modify the school calendar for a school closure and/or asynchronous instruction day on October 10th due to the traffic impact to three of the four Nelson County Schools due of the Valley of Seven Stars Music Fest (Oct. 10-12) at Oak Ridge Estate.The SB unanimously approved Dr. Hester to make the calendar change as she determines is best. Dr. Hester will communicate that decision as soon as she can to parents.