In the 2022-23 school year, the Hanover school Board spent nearly $5000 on public meetings and work sessions at private golf and country clubs; The Federal Club and Hanover Crossings Golf Course. The room rental fees range from $125-300, with the remaining funds spent on meals, snacks, and coffee. These public meetings have been held during the workday, making it hard for parents and citizens to attend. Furthermore, there are plenty of no-cost or low-cost, more centrally located public sites such as our public libraries or meeting rooms available through Hanover County. Meanwhile, Hanover teachers and staff rarely, if ever, have catered meals; when they do have catered meals, they are paid for by the PTAs which raise funds to do this, bring a potluck with the help of parents, or are able to get a local restaurant to donate a meal. And the HCPS teachers hold their meetings at their schools; not offsite.
Our School Board members have bristled at spending the money necessary to relieve overcrowding in some of our schools, such as Cool Springs Elementary School, and as recently as this past School Board meeting, said they are trying to be good stewards of money while reviewing the 2025 Budget. And, they've continued in the current school year to hold meetings at these private country clubs in spite of community concerns and alternative options and locations being presented to them.
Please contact the Hanover County School Board Chair Bob May and our School Board members (contact information below), and ask them to be more transparent and better stewards of the public's money, to hold their meetings in public spaces that are low or no-cost, more conveniently located, and to find more modest meal options--for example, they could bring their own lunches from home or eat a meal in the school cafeteria as our students, staff, and teachers do.
Robert J. (Bob) May, South Anna District - Chair(804) 752-4646 | SB-rmay@hcps.usSteven Ikenberry, Cold Harbor District - Vice Chair(804) 514-2197 | SB-sikenberry@hcps.usGreg Coleman, Beaverdam District(804) 634-9366 | SB-gcoleman@hcps.usOla J. Hawkins, Ashland District(804) 357-3743 | SB-ohawkins@hcps.usRobert L. Hundley, Jr., Chickahominy District(804) 550-9222 | SB-rhundley@hcps.us
John E. Redd, Jr., Mechanicsville District(804) 746-7112 | SB-jredd@hcps.us
Whitney Welsh, Henry District(804) 650-1251 | SB-wwelsh@hcps.us
