Superintendent's Newsletter

Students, Staff, & Families,

I want to share with you that I have made the decision to retire as Division Superintendent of Botetourt County Public Schools, effective July 1, 2025. My time in Botetourt these past five years have been the most rewarding of my 34-year career, and I have seen firsthand the dedication of our school board, educators, staff, families, and community in providing the very best for our students. Because of the hard work and dedication of so many, Botetourt County Public Schools continues to be a place where students grow, learn, and succeed. The strong foundation we have built together will carry on, and I have no doubt that the future of BCPS is bright.

Allow me to explain the following special school board meeting notice you may have seen posted on the division website and social media:

As a member of the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA), the school division will be utilizing one of their primary services: Superintendent Search Assistance. A representative of the VSBA will be meeting with our school board to provide an overview of this service and the search process. This is a key part of making sure Botetourt County Public Schools has the best candidates to choose from.

• This special meeting will be broadcast on the BCPS Live streaming service, available online at: https://www.bcps.live/
• Video recordings of board meetings since July 2022 are available to watch online at: https://www.bcps.live/archives/
• Agendas for previous and upcoming meetings are available online at: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/bcps/Board.nsf/Public

I look forward to continuing our important work in the months ahead, and I remain committed to a smooth transition and to ensuring the continued success of our schools. Thank you for your continued support, partnership, and the cherished memories I will take with me.

Sincerely,

Several middle and high school art students participated in an art contest for the Botetourt County State of the County event and were recognized at the February Board of Supervisors meeting. The contest was to design a postage stamp that represented the departments of our local government and to capture the 'heart' of Botetourt County. Their artwork was included in the county's Annual Report and in a presentation on the BOCO website.

Thank you all for participating and sharing your talents with our community!

I don't think any of us expected to have so many inclement weather days this winter. This raised questions about our bank time and possible impacts on the schedule for the remainder of the school year. On the Calendar page of the school division website, you will find two documents:

1. Bank Time: Explained
2. Bank Time: Usage & Tracking

These documents do exactly what their titles suggest-- they explain how we calculate bank time and provide a record of the time we have used so far this school year.

This is a wonderful event provided by the Special Education Department in collaboration with the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). All are invited to attend to learn more about opportunities for students with special needs at their families.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Lord Botetourt HS Cafeteria

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Simple practices like washing your hands with soap and water and covering your cough or sneeze can go a long way to preventing the spread of illness. Our division's Health Services website offers other helpful information and resources for families as well.

Here's a friendly reminder about when to keep your child home:

• March 11: Special School Board Meeting
• March 13: School Board Meeting
• March 20: School Board Work Session
• March 24 - 28: Spring Break (no school for students)
• March 31: Public Hearing - School Board Budget
• April 18: Good Friday (BCPS Closed)
• April 21: Easter Monday (BCPS Closed)
• May 21: Last Day of School (2-hour early dismissal)