Lynchburg City Council and Schools Joint Meeting on September 8, 2026

The City Council and Lynchburg City Schools held a joint meeting on the afternoon of September 8, 2026, at the IT Conference Room on Young Place. Mayor Larry Taylor and School Board Chair Dr. Atul Gupta co-chaired the session, which featured updates on division leadership and a comprehensive capital improvement report.

Discussion Items

Leadership Update Superintendent Dr. Kristy Somerville-Midgette presented the division’s new vision and mission ("Growth Opportunity Success," "Empower students for future success"). She detailed the administration’s focus on consistent instructional planning, professional learning communities (PLCs), expanded literacy screening, and increased time for instructional supervisors in classrooms. A major emphasis was placed on tackling chronic absenteeism through weekly data collection and monthly reporting to the board.

Capital Improvement Update Chief Operating Officer Travis Marshall provided a detailed overview of capital projects.

Completed Projects (since 2025):

• Roof replacements at Lincoln Elementary, Laurel Regional Program, Perrymont Elementary, Bedford Hills Elementary, and Fort Hill Community School.
• Athletic field upgrades at Heritage High School (track, practice turf, baseball turf).
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) lab upgrades at Sandusky Middle School and E.C. Glass High School (automotive technology lab).
• Playground modernizations at Sandusky Elementary, TC Miller Academy, and Deerington Elementary.

Current Projects:

• Major building envelope repairs (moisture intrusion, masonry, waterproofing) at E.C. Glass High School and R.S. Payne Elementary, funded in part by a 2025 School Construction Assistance Program Award. Estimated completion is summer 2027.
• E.C. Glass track and turf field replacement delayed due to unsuitable soils and trench drain issues, now resolved. Expected completion: October 2026.
• Division-wide access control system upgrades (Phase 1 complete, Phase 2 scheduled for May 2027).

Upcoming Projects (2027): A major package of architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (AMEP) upgrades at six schools (Perrymont Elementary, Lincoln Middle, Dunbar Middle, Sandusky Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Robert S. Payne Elementary). This includes a full roof replacement at Sandusky Elementary and a gymnasium addition at Heritage Elementary.

Board and Council Comments Multiple council and school board members spoke in support of the direction of the division.

• Councilmember Chris Flavi expressed prior skepticism about the E.C. Glass track project but commended the administration for its transparency and thorough work on the underground issues, stating he was wrong in his initial position.
• Councilmember S. Paul Dima commended the focus on consistent instruction, literacy, and attendance. He formally requested a public dashboard for council to monitor reading, math, and chronic absenteeism data by school to improve transparency and accountability.
• Councilmember Mitch applauded the speed and decisiveness of the capital project execution. He highlighted chronic absenteeism as the most critical challenge, citing a roughly 11% non-participation rate for SOLs at E.C. Glass. He stressed the need for improved information flow between the city and schools regarding interagency truancy enforcement.
• Councilmember Wilder emphasized that school success is a community problem requiring community involvement, praising efforts by local organizations (ACP, Jubilee) and asking how the public can engage more.
• Councilmember Poe delivered remarks on budget priorities, stating that "actions speak louder than words." He argued that investment in education is an investment in public safety and economic returns, citing research on achievement gap reduction (up to 41% in reading, 27% in math) and local teacher salary comparisons.
• School Board Chair Dr. Atul Gupta definitively stated there is no discussion regarding closing any schools in the division. He stressed a focus on academics and enforcement of policies (dress code, cell phones, truancy). He also noted the division faces a $2.1 million budget gap due to an unfunded state mandate for a 4% teacher salary increase.
• School Board member Pastor Nigel commended the Superintendent’s collaborative leadership and strategic plan, noting that absenteeism is a national problem but expressing confidence in the local approach.

Key Outcomes

• No Formal Votes: The meeting was a work session without formal votes.
• Data Reporting Commitment: Superintendent confirmed that academic, attendance, and chronic absenteeism data will be presented to the school board on a monthly basis, moving away from annual reporting.
• Dashboard Request: A clear council request was made for a public-facing performance dashboard. The superintendent and school board chair acknowledged the request.
• Funding Request: Dr. Gupta requested the city’s support in closing a $2.1 million gap created by an unfunded state mandate.
• Truancy Focus: Both bodies identified interagency coordination on truancy as a key priority, with calls for better data sharing and governance oversight between the schools, city attorney, and human services.