Wythe County school board adopts FY26 budget, seeks $16.2 million in county funding

The Wythe County School Board on Tuesday approved the division’s fiscal year 2026 budget, asking the Wythe County Board of Supervisors to provide $16,203,720 in county operational appropriations.

The budget, presented by Superintendent Dr. Poole, is built on a projected enrollment of 3,565 students and proposes an average salary increase of about 3% for employees, a $47,800 starting teacher salary, targeted adjustments to the top of the teacher pay scale, and several position additions including an additional speech therapist and an additional elementary special education teacher. “The FY26 budget … the priorities for the FY26 budget [are] faculty and staff compensation, student support, special education support, the maintenance of essential positions, capital improvement projects, and the continued focus on school safety,” Dr. Poole said.

Why it matters: the request to the county is $845,663 over the formula-required local match; the board’s adoption sends the request and the full budget to the county for consideration ahead of the county’s appropriation process.

Details and supporting items The budget document presented to the board includes: a projected enrollment figure of 3,565, a proposed average 3% salary increase systemwide, a $47,800 starting teacher salary, removal of one step at the top of the existing teacher salary scale with adjustments to steps 20–30, a $2,000 increase to each step in the custodial pay scale, and an increase in bus driver pay to $107 per day. The board also proposed adding two buses and listed capital projects including roofing work and a potential wastewater project at Jackson (the latter noted as a possible grant-funded item). The division also plans continued LED lighting upgrades across buildings and additional stadium lighting replacements at high school facilities; George Wythe’s lights were noted as replaced earlier this year and other fields are planned for future updates.

On benefits and fixed costs, Dr. Poole told the board the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) employer rate for professional employees remains at 15.2%. The administration said it had met with the county insurance committee after a reported 12% increase in health insurance costs; exact employer/employee cost shares for FY26 were still being finalized at the time of the presentation.

Revenue and county request The FY26 state budget released by the General Assembly included an increase over the governor’s proposal that the superintendent said improved the division’s outlook; the presentation listed an FY26 general-assembly increase of $1,538,848 over the governor’s proposal. Wythe County Public Schools requested $16,203,720 from the Wythe County Board of Supervisors — $845,663 more than the required local match and $1,403,720 more for that line item than FY25.

Board action and votes The board moved to approve the FY26 budget; after a second and an oral vote of “aye,” the chair announced the FY26 Wythe County Public Schools budget was approved.

Votes at a glance - Approve FY26 Wythe County Public Schools budget — outcome: approved (oral aye vote; tally not recorded). - Approve bills payable and invoices (consent) — outcome: approved (oral aye vote). - Approve minutes of Feb. 13 board meeting — outcome: approved (oral aye vote). - Approve sale of surplus items (use GovDeals) — outcome: approved (oral aye vote). - Approve superintendent personnel recommendations (after closed session) — outcome: approved (oral aye vote).

What’s next The superintendent will present the budget request to the Wythe County Board of Supervisors; Dr. Poole said that presentation is scheduled for Thursday the 20th at 10:30 a.m. The board will monitor ADM (average daily membership) and carryover amounts to determine any future adjustments to the final budget.

Ending note Board Chair Katrina Hall and members thanked staff for the multiple iterations of budget work. Dr. Poole and Dr. Brad Hager were singled out for their roles in preparing the proposal.