The Stafford County School Board approved Superintendent Daniel Smith’s proposed $529.3 million education budget for the next fiscal year Tuesday night, so now the spending plan goes to the Board of Supervisors.
The School Board voted 6-1 in favor of the budget, which is designed to support continued student growth, staff compensation and the opening of three new schools in August, according to a school division announcement of the decision released Wednesday.
“This funding request reflects our deep commitment to our students, our staff and our community,” School Board Chairwoman Elizabeth Warner said in a prepared statement. “We are preparing for significant new operational costs with the opening of three new schools, while also making meaningful investments in compensation, instructional resources and safe, well-maintained facilities. Our focus remains on attracting and retaining high-quality staff and ensuring every student has access to an exceptional educational experience.”
School Board members made a few changes to the budget regarding employee pay and raising insurance premiums, but the total budget amount Smith proposed Feb. 2 didn’t change. School Board member Patricia Healy of the Rock Hill District cast the sole dissenting vote Tuesday. Before voting, she expressed concern about increasing insurance costs for division workers.
The budget reflects an increase of $21.6 million in state revenue, bringing the division’s total anticipated state funding to $321.7 million. The projected local funding needed is $197.6 million.
At the local level, the division is requesting a $10.6 million increase to support operating costs associated with three new schools, along with $8 million dedicated to staff compensation and benefits. Combined, the total local funding increase request is $18.6 million.
County Administrator Bill Ashton proposed a bit more than a $15 million increase for education in his budget for the Stafford government as a whole, so School Board members and supervisors will continue to discuss that funding gap. The two boards meet together Thursday night.
About 26% of total new education funding would support operating costs for the three new schools, including staffing, utilities, custodial services and instructional support, the school division announcement said. The remaining 74% would address division-wide priorities and new expenses, including more than $16.3 million in compensation increases for teachers and staff.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to approve the overall county budget April 21. After that action, the School Board will make any necessary changes to the education spending plan.
