Lynchburg Committee Pushes T.C. Miller Pre-K Shift—But $2.8M Operating Gap Looms

TC Miller Elementary School in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Lynchburg, VA—A joint city council and school board committee endorsed converting T.C. Miller Elementary into a pre-K hub, saving $1 million, and rejected new school construction through FY2030, citing costs beyond the $68 million capital budget. With a $2.8 million FY2026 operating gap and a $4.2 million spending hike in a $9.6 million tax increase, one closure falls short—Norfolk’s $71 million lesson says more cuts could save Lynchburg taxpayers.

• The pitch: T.C. Miller shifts to pre-K by August 2025, consolidating 10 classrooms from three schools, saving $1M in operating costs without cuts, says Interim Superintendent Ben Copeland. Full board vote April 1—not budgeted yet.

• The budgets: City Manager Wynter Benda proposes $4.2M more in operating funds (Budget p. 187), part of a $9.6M tax hike—schools sought $7M, leaving a $2.8M operating gap. Separately, $68M in capital funds over five years targets maintenance.

• Why it matters: Enrollment’s at 72% capacity (3,388 vs. 4,702)—below the 80-94% consultants recommend—and dropping through 2030 (UVA), pushing efficiency needs. Surplus capacity bleeds taxpayer cash.

K-5 Enrollment Data and Projections for Lynchburg City Schools.

• By the numbers:

  • T.C. Miller: $1M operating savings—if approved, gap falls to $1.8M.

  • May 2023 LCS data: One closure + rezoning = $2.357M operating savings—adjusted to $2.43M (2025 dollars, 3% CPI). With T.C. Miller’s $1M, a second closure hits $3.43M—covers the $2.8M operating gap, not the $4.2M hike.

  • Capacity: 4,702 - 276 (T.C. Miller) = 4,426; 3,388 students = 77%—under 80% target (3,762). Pre-K shift + another closure could hit it.

  • No new school: Deputy City Manager Greg Patrick said a new build needs extra capital beyond the $68M—committee’s 4-1 vote nixes it through FY2030.

  • Maintenance: Committee flagged deferred needs; Copeland confirmed no capital funds for the next closure school.

The Roof of Sandusky Elementary School in Lynchburg, Virginia.

• What’s good: $1M trims operating waste, pre-K hub eases K-5 pressure—taxpayers get relief (#13).

• What’s missing: $3.43M from two closures fixes the $2.8M operating gap—but $4.2M operating boost still bites.

• The kicker: In a parallel situation, Norfolk’s council says surplus schools cost taxpayers $71M over five years (2018-2022)—their 10-school closure push dwarfs Lynchburg’s plan, where a second closure could save $2.43M atop T.C. Miller’s $1M, hitting $3.43M to erase the $2.8M gap. Why pile on to the $9.6M tax hike with enrollment falling?

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More Details:

• Norfolk Parallel: Norfolk’s council unanimously voted (March 25, 2025) to close 10 schools by 2026-2027, citing $71M in excess spending from surplus capacity over five years—parallels Lynchburg’s inefficiency.

• Budgets: Operating ($2.8M gap, $4.2M hike) vs. capital ($68M for maintenance)—closures target operating savings; no maintenance for the next closure school.

Norfolk’s $71M wake-up call amplifies Lynchburg’s stakes—$3.43M could nix the gap, but the tax hike lingers. How much are surplus schools costing Lynchburg taxpayers?

Sources: News & Advance (3/23/25) & (3/30/25), FY2026 budget (p. 187), joint committee doc, LCS May 2023, UVA projections, April 2023 plan, joint meeting video (Greg Patrick comments), Norfolk City Council Resolution.