By Nicholas Langhorne/Staff Writer

nicholas.langhorne@tidewaternews.com

ISLE OF WIGHT—After hearing some encouraging budget news from Superintendent Michael McPherson, the Isle of Wight County School Board voted unanimously Thursday to include keeping Windsor Middle School open in next year’s proposed budget.

The vote — taken during a Thursday afternoon budget work session — doesn’t guarantee the school won’t close but makes it much less likely.

An initial draft of the school division’s fiscal 2011 budget called for closing Windsor Middle School and sending its students to Carrsville Elementary and Windsor High School. The proposal prompted a storm of protests from parents and students.

McPherson told the board that the budget approved earlier this month by the General Assembly included several positives for the school system, including the composite index and reduced obligations to the Virginia Retirement System.

The School Board has scheduled a meeting for the adoption of the budget for 7 p.m. Monday at the courthouse complex.