Student School Board Representative
The Albemarle County School Board is searching for four students who would like to serve as a Student Representative to the School Board for the 2025-26 school year. This position is open to rising juniors and seniors. In this role, students do not have voting power, but they attend board meetings to give advice and to make sure the board hears the thoughts, interests, and concerns of students. Student representatives will take turns attending school board meetings from August 2025 to May 2026.
Serving as a Student Representative to the School Board provides students with a direct line to the leaders who are making decisions about their education. It’s also a chance for students to get involved in their community and to learn how the schools and the county are run. Student representatives help shape what happens in our schools, and they help make sure everyone feels included.
Plan Ahead for the 2025-26 School Year
Just a quick reminder—next year’s school calendar includes an earlier start date. The first day of school for students is Wednesday, August 13. This shift supports best practices for learning and aligns with other local school divisions.
Please take a moment to review the 2025-26 School Calendar (available in English and Spanish) and consider any adjustments needed for summer plans.
The first day of school for the 2025-26 school year is Wednesday, August 13. Registering early helps us plan for a smooth start!
How to Register for Kindergarten:
- Check eligibility: Your child must be 5 years old by September 30, 2025, and live in Albemarle County.
- Find your school: Your child’s school is determined by your home address. For guidance, visit our Attendance Areas page.
- Gather required documents: State law requires proof of identity, residency, and health records. Our online registration form allows you to upload these documents. If you’re missing anything, you can submit the form and work with your child’s school to provide the necessary documentation.
- Complete the online registration form: Be sure to select the 2025-26 Registration Form when applying.
ACPS Budget for 2025-2026
As Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) prepares for the 2025-26 school year, the School Board has submitted its annual funding request to the Board of Supervisors. This year’s request focuses on keeping staff pay competitive, supporting student learning, and maintaining safe schools. It also addresses serious financial challenges—including rising healthcare costs, growing student enrollment, and a $10 million yearly cut in state funding due to changes in how state money is distributed.
The proposed school operating budget totals $284 million, which includes an extra $2.8 million from the county. Even with this additional support, ACPS still faces a $750,000 shortfall. To help close the gap, the School Board has proposed $6.4 million in reductions for next year, following $3.5 million in cuts this year.
Proposed reductions include:
- Freezing or eliminating some central office and department jobs and reorganizing the services and duties these roles fulfill
- Reducing the number of instructional coaches by 40%
- Ending the Foreign Language in Elementary Schools (FLES) and National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC) programs
- Cutting back on furniture replacements and delaying some technology upgrades
Despite these cuts, the budget protects key priorities:
- Competitive salaries to keep and attract great employees
- High-quality resources to support student learning
- Robust programs that promote equity and innovation, like Scholars Studios
- Services that support students with disabilities
- Efforts to maintain safe school environments
ACPS will also continue to fund many other important programs not required by the state but strongly supported by our community, such as small class sizes, school safety coaches, and social-emotional learning supports.
The 2024-25 Golden Apple Winners include:
- Colette Aylor, Agnor Elementary School
- Stu Poindexter, Albemarle High School
- Ryann Galganowicz, Baker-Butler Elementary School
- Kirsten Logan, Broadus Wood Elementary School
- Rachel Sapino, Brownsville Elementary School
- Crystal Randall, Burley Middle School
- Amanda Blevins, Center I
- Lizzie Stallings, Community Lab School
- Jenna Hall, Crozet Elementary School
- Ashley Hoffar, Greer Elementary School
- Mary McLachlan, Henley Middle School
- Susan Peck, Hollymead Elementary School
- Rachel Montgomery, Ivy Elementary School
- Ann Clark, Journey Middle School
- Jeffrey Matriccino, Lakeside Middle School
- April Wilkerson, Monticello High School
- Kimberly Wilson, Mountain View Elementary School
- Mendy St. Ours, Murray Elementary School
- Cecilia Schultz, Newcomer Learning Community
- Margaret Page, Red Hill Elementary School
- Leanna Dalton, Scottsville Elementary School
- Tyler Croson, Stone-Robinson Elementary School
- Addison Holmes, Stony Point Elementary School
- Eric Painter, Walton Middle School
- Jordan Dudley, Western Albemarle High School
- Tam Lovelace, Woodbrook Elementary School
New Building Projects
In February, we broke ground on two new school facilities. Mountain View Upper Elementary School, which will host Mountain View students in grades 3-5, and the Albemarle Career Exploration Academy Lambs Lane, which will host several of our new Scholars Studios, are the first new school facilities we have built since Baker-Butler Elementary School in 2002.
Learn more about these projects:
Mountain View Upper Elementary School Groundbreaking
Albemarle Career Exploration Academy Lambs Lane Groundbreaking
New Principals
At its February 27, 2025, meeting, the Albemarle County School Board appointed Rick Vrhovac as principal of Henley Middle School, effective immediately. Vrhovac has served as substitute principal throughout the current school year and will continue as principal through the 2025-26 school year. Then, at its March 13 meeting, the board appointed Christie Isaiah as principal of Woodbrook Elementary School, also effective immediately. Isaiah has been serving as interim principal at Woodbrook since the start of the school year.
Albemarle County Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jay Thomas as the next principal of Center I, which will be renamed the Albemarle Career Exploration Academy @ Seminole Trail (ACE Academy Seminole Trail) at the start of the 2025-26 school year.