Oak Ridge Schools presents FY26 budget concepts, projects 79-student enrollment increase and outlines staffing focus

Oak Ridge Schools staff presented FY26 budget concepts to the Oak Ridge Board of Education, reporting higher preliminary revenue projections, a district focus on staffing and a projected enrollment increase of about 79 students for the coming school year.

Melissa Van Dyke (presentation lead) told the board the budget overview was intentionally high level. She said revenues are currently above what was budgeted for the present year and that the district’s primary FY26 focus is staffing. Van Dyke said the district is consolidating salary schedules and plans that all employees “will get a minimum of a 5% increase” on the new schedule. She described work with consultant partners at LeanFrog to analyze market compensation and to design a new, percentage‑based salary schedule for implementation in FY26.

Van Dyke said the district’s first state funding estimate for FY26 was received in March and that additional estimates will follow in late May and June; the district receives the final appropriation in July. She told the board the district requested a $700,000 maintenance‑of‑effort increase from the City of Oak Ridge and that county sales and property tax receipts in Anderson and Roane counties are up; enrollment changes in those counties affect the district’s funding apportionment.

Staff reported a projected increase of about 79 students for FY26, with the high school showing a slight projected decrease while middle and elementary enrollments are projected to rise. Van Dyke and other presenters cautioned that enrollment is fluid and can change quickly: the enrollment snapshot reported at the meeting showed 4,799 students as of the district’s weekly count on April 24.

Other FY26 considerations noted for the board included: an assumption of continued increases in health insurance (final figures not yet available), a slight dental premium increase just received, a decreased retirement benefit rate for licensed staff (TCRS) and continued capital payments tied to infrastructure projects (payments noted for ESG phase 1 and phase 2 improvements). The district also intends to use a set‑aside to purchase laptops for grades 5–12.

Miss Webb delivered a legislative update summarized from TSBA reporting: the state budget passed (noted figure announced in the meeting) and TSBA tracked 251 pieces of education‑related legislation, with 70 bills passing that will affect public education. Van Dyke and other staff noted one piece of legislation related to undocumented students has been deferred until 2026 after being stopped in the House for budget reasons; TSBA tracked that it narrowly passed the Senate.

Enrollment and attendance reports were also provided by Lauren Dean. She emphasized the week‑to‑week fluidity of enrollment and reported March staff attendance recognitions across schools; student attendance was strong across the district for the reporting period that included spring break.

Board members asked questions about the salary schedule process and the timing of state funding estimates. Van Dyke said the district expects further state guidance before finalizing the FY26 budget and will bring a line‑by‑line budget review at an upcoming May work session; the board is scheduled to adopt the budget at a May 19 meeting.

The presentation was informational; no action was required at the meeting.