Goochland school board to hold Jan. 20 budget workshop for community

Goochland County Public Schools will hold a School Board budget workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the School Administration Building, 2938 River Road W, Building I. Community members are invited to attend, and agendas are available through the division’s agenda portal and the district live feed at goochlandschools.org/live-feed.

Budget workshops are the point where line items that touch daily school life are discussed in public. For Goochland residents, those conversations shape everything from school nursing coverage and mental health supports to classroom staffing, transportation routes and nutrition programs. In practical terms, budget choices influence how quickly a school can fill a vacant nurse or counselor position, whether afterschool programs can expand, and how resources are allocated for students with disabilities and families with limited means.

Public health implications extend beyond the clinic window. School nurses manage chronic conditions, oversee immunizations and serve as an early warning system for community outbreaks. Counselors and school-based mental health services help students navigate trauma, family stress and the longer-term effects of economic instability. Reductions in these services would place greater strain on families, primary care providers and county health systems, while targeted investments can improve attendance, reduce emergency visits and promote academic success.

Equity is central to these budget discussions. Funding decisions can narrow or widen gaps in access for students who rely on school-based health and social supports. Rural counties like Goochland must weigh competing priorities while ensuring that students in every neighborhood receive the services they need to learn and thrive. Transparent public workshops give residents a chance to see how resources are distributed and to raise concerns about unmet needs.

Parents, school staff and other stakeholders who cannot attend in person can watch the live feed and review posted agendas ahead of the meeting. The workshop is one step in the division’s budget process; subsequent meetings and votes will determine the final plan that affects operations and services through the school year.

For Goochland families, the Jan. 20 workshop is more than a line on the calendar. It is a public moment where community priorities meet fiscal reality, and where decisions will echo in classrooms, cafeterias and health offices across the county. Review the agenda online, tune in to the live feed, and consider participating to make sure community health and equity are part of the budget conversation.