BY LINDLEY ESTES

The Stafford County School Board could put as much as $6 million into a health benefits fund for retirees.

At a board work session at 5 p.m. today, members will discuss how much to set aside in the "Other Post Employment Benefits" fund for county public school employees and retirees.

Lance Wolff, the division's superintendent for financial services, said the figure will reflect "what the priority of the fund is."

The amount being set aside has been a source of friction with the Stafford Board of Supervisors, which has said the money would be better spent on teacher raises and school improvements.

The School Board will also discuss the automotive-tech program and practice fields at the planned new Stafford High School. The new building is to open in 2015 at a site adjacent to the current school building.

Some Stafford residents have been vocal at recent board meetings about the inclusion of the auto program and fields at the new SHS. They have said Stafford High students will lose study time when traveling to practice fields and that the automotive program is a necessary course offering.

Also, the board will examine how the division categorizes spending in its financial reports.

The board starts its regular business meeting at 7 p.m.

Lindley Estes: 540/735-1976
Email: lestes@freelancestar.com