Fredericksburg City Schools Superintendent Marci Catlett presented on Monday night a Fiscal Year 2027 budget that includes a 7% pay increase for teachers and the creation of 15 full-time equivalent positions (FTE).
The budget, which totals $68.39 million, also adjusts the nurse salary scale, athletic stipend scale and adds a “safe driving bonus” for transportation employees. It represents a 5.8% increase from last year’s adopted budget.
New positions in the FY27 budget include: two English Language Learner teachers, a gifted teacher, four teachers, 1.5 Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers, a special education coordinator, three special educational instructional assistants, a school nurse and school security officer at James Monroe High School, and a family services coordinator with Head Start.
Also included are a pair of family liaisons, who will work with the division’s Afghan and Hispanic populations. Currently, three Afghan family liaisons working with the division’s Connections Resources Center are covered by a grant that’s set to expire in September.
Ward 1 school board member Andy Wolfenbarger said his own analysis pointed to a 9% teacher raise being needed to make the division competitive with neighboring Stafford and Spotsylvania counties. While calling the proposed budget a “great start,” Wolfenbarger also pointed to the need for better retention incentives.
“The best way to improve instructional outcomes is to have the best teachers in the room,” Wolfenbarger said. “There’s really not much more you can do than that.”
The school board will hold a public hearing on the budget March 3. Another important date is Feb. 17, when the General Assembly “crosses over” and the amount of state funding FCPS is set to receive will become clearer.
The Fiscal Year begins on July 1.
