Warren County School Board Reviews Threat Assessments, Staffing Progress, and Policy Updates

The Warren County School Board held a work session on Monday evening, addressing a full agenda that included updates on school safety, staffing, compensation formatting, policy changes, and the formal appointment of the board clerk. Board members also discussed the effectiveness of recent recruitment efforts and dissolved a standing committee to support greater transparency during budget season.

SRO Report: Threat Assessments Trending Down

The evening began with a report from Kristin Hajduk, who leads the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. Between August and December 2025, the school division recorded 99 incidents involving safety concerns and threat assessments — a slight decrease from the same period in the previous school year.

While cellular threat assessments remain the most frequently reported category, the division has seen an increase in early reports from both students and parents, which is being encouraged. The SRO emphasized that threat assessments should not be viewed negatively, but rather as a preventative safety tool. Early reporting allows the school system to provide support, such as counseling or community resources, even for the students at the center of an investigation.

In addition, the division’s PAL (Police and Leaders) program has been expanding through events like open gyms, community engagement, and the upcoming Junior Deputies Camp over spring break. The camp will allow students to experience basic law enforcement training in a supervised setting. The SRO also promoted the ongoing Explorers Program for older students and encouraged more youth involvement in both initiatives.

ESS Update Shows Major Gains in Substitute Fill Rates

Amy Chandlee, regional representative for ESS, and regional manager Andrew Hall provided a detailed update on staffing, substitute coverage, and recruiting metrics. Mid-year data showed a notable improvement in daily substitute fill rates, rising from 81% last school year to 99% this year when including building-based substitutes. The number of daily assignments has also increased from 35–40 per day last year to 45–55 per day this year.

ESS is also seeing a drop in absence requests and continues to attract new substitute applicants. As of January, 48 new substitute teachers had been hired, with 44 more in the application pipeline and approximately 150 active substitutes overall.

Chandlee also highlighted ongoing recruiting efforts, participation in job fairs, and community engagement, including volunteer work with the local nonprofit Reaching Out Now. Incentive programs, newsletters, and meet-and-greet events at locations like Samuels Public Library are also part of ESS’s outreach to keep substitute teachers engaged and informed.

The most significant staffing challenge remains last-minute morning absences, and ESS is actively exploring strategies to address this issue.

Salary Scale Format Updated for Clarity

The board unanimously approved a formatting update to the FY2026 salary scale. The revision consolidates all Virginia Retirement System (VRS)-creditable supplements onto a single reference page, helping staff and administrators more easily distinguish between VRS-creditable and non-creditable compensation.

There are no changes to actual pay amounts or funding, and the update is aimed solely at improving transparency and ease of use. As part of the change, the board also approved the addition of a substitute social worker position to provide temporary, part-time support during periods of increased caseload or when one of the division’s two full-time social workers is unavailable.

New Clerk Appointed, Budget Committee Dissolved

The board voted to appoint Sarah Stelzel as the new clerk of the Warren County School Board, with a term running from January 1 through December 31, 2026. Board members expressed appreciation for the service of outgoing clerk Mr. Valentine.

In a move toward greater public discussion of school finances, the board also approved the dissolution of its standing Budget Committee. Members cited a shift in approach that prioritizes full board participation in open sessions for all budget deliberations. The committee’s removal will also be reflected in updated board policies.

Policy Updates: First and Second Readings Held

Several policy changes were introduced or reviewed, including:

• First Reading of Policy BCE (School Board Committees) and Policy BCG (School Attorney), reflecting the removal of the now-dissolved budget committee and refining language around the use of legal counsel.
• Second Reading of a set of SBMA policies, including a significant update to Policy GBA, which was entirely redlined to bring it into alignment with federal and state non-discrimination laws and EEOC guidance.
• First Reading of a final batch of SBMA policies with a few major revisions.

During the discussion of Policy BCG, board members agreed that greater clarity is needed on how and when board members may contact the school division’s attorney. They referenced models from other Virginia localities, including Virginia Beach, and discussed the need to balance attorney access with cost management and legal privilege considerations. Further review and revisions are expected in upcoming meetings.

Closed Session and Personnel Approvals

Following the public session, the board entered a closed meeting to discuss personnel matters. Upon return, members approved the January 21 personnel report and addendum.

Looking Ahead

The next board meeting is expected to include final approval of policy updates, continued discussions on access to legal counsel, and follow-up on substitute staffing strategies. With improved substitute coverage, community-policing outreach, and streamlined salary documents, Warren County Schools continues to focus on transparency, safety, and student support across all areas.