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Starting today, a contractor hired by the Montgomery County schools will mail surveys to residents asking them to identify the number of children who live there, among other details.

It's part of the school census conducted every three years, and every school system in the state is supposed to do it. Parents will be asked the name, age and birth date of every child in the family so the school system can compile a list.

The state tracks residents ages 5 to 19 to decide how much of the sales tax revenues should be given to each school system. A little more than 1 percent of the Virginia sales tax is returned to municipalities to fund public schools.

Montgomery County school officials estimate they lose about $2,000 in state money from every child who isn't counted.

In the past year, the schools received about $10 million in sales tax for the county's 9,560 school-age residents. That equals about $1,046 per child, but the schools also receive sales tax dollars from the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, said Walt Shannon, director of finance for the school system.

The school census is a separate count from the enrollment of students. Parents are asked to list all children, even if they do not attend a school in the county, are in the military or are home-schooled.

Shannon said the school system usually gets good responses and tracks most students who are enrolled, but some are more difficult to list.

"The tough ones are some of the 5-year-olds who have never enrolled in school, so it's picking those up and a few of the 19-year-olds who have graduated," Shannon said.

Anyone with a residential postal address should receive a letter. People with P.O. boxes may not, Shannon said.

School board members get new county benefit

Montgomery County's seven school board members voted last week to add themselves to the school system's workers' compensation plan.

Several school boards across the state have done the same, but not all local boards do. Montgomery County's supervisors are not listed under the county's plan.

Adding the school board members isn't supposed to increase the school system's workers comp costs, Shannon said.

Virginia Lottery names 'super' Floyd Co. teacher

The Virginia Lottery has named a Floyd County teacher one of its "Super Teachers." Jennifer Bunn, a fifth-grade teacher at Indian Valley Elementary, was surprised with the award Tuesday.

Her husband, Brett Bunn, nominated her for the award. The "Super Teacher" label is given to eight nominated teachers from each education region in the state. Winners get $2,000 in school supplies for their classroom and a personal $2,000 check.

Anna Mallory covers events and issues affecting Montgomery County schools and beyond. If you have information you'd like featured, e-mail anna.mallory@roanoke.com.