New Kent superintendent asks county leaders for reconsideration to fund new elementary school

During the 2025-2026 budgeting process, New Kent Board of Supervisors faced a decision on funding the construction of a new courthouse, funding a new elementary school, or both. As a result of those discussions, county leaders elected to start funding the construction of a new courthouse, leaving the new elementary school on the cutting room floor. At Monday night’s regular meeting of New Kent’s Board of Supervisors, the schools made another plea for reconsideration.

New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway along with county leaders emerged from a closed session at the beginning of Monday’s meeting. After coming out of the deliberations, Hathaway addressed supervisors and spoke of the schools’ request.

Discussions between Hathaway and New Kent Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols revolved around a transfer of $130,732.99 for architectural services, contracting, and a bid for the new school. Approving those funds would initiate the cycle of engineering work that would total $2.4 million to complete.

County leaders commented about possible shortcomings, including space allocation at the school. District 1 representative Thomas Evelyn said that he was worried that any new school would look similar to Quinton Elementary School.

Nichols spoke at the lectern, assuring that any school design would not look like Quinton Elementary School and that lessons were learned from that construction. The superintendent added that if the allocation wasn’t done at the meeting tonight, then the cost would jump in October.

District 2 leader John Moyer responded, saying that the decision for funding didn’t have to do with schools, but the allocation of money from Rosie’s Gaming Emporium. A new state law that passed in July now uses a formula to allocate money to New Kent from horse races. According to Moyer, the funds received from Rosie’s could be cut in half, resulting in the board of supervisors having to strategize more over capital projects than they had eight months ago.

District 3 supervisor Amy Pearson echoed Moyer’s comments, saying that why she was not against building a school, she wants the county to be fiscally responsible. District 5 leader Jordan Stewart commented that she supports the building of a new school.

Action for the transfer of funds for engineering services were deferred by county leaders until a future meeting as staff was directed to conduct more research and the feasibility to move forward with the construction of a new elementary school.