Roanoke County School Board adopts $282.8 million budget and approves pay, insurance, redistricting and disciplinary actions

Roanoke County School Board members adopted the division’s 2025–26 annual budget — $282,794,199 — and approved a series of related motions Tuesday, including the annual pay plan, new health/dental/vision insurance options, a capital improvement plan, a student fee schedule, a redistricting of a neighborhood from Burlington Elementary to Mountain View Elementary, and two expulsions recommended in closed session.

Why it matters: The budget sets the school division’s spending framework and funds teacher and staff pay, health benefits and capital projects. Board members debated revenue projections and the county’s revenue-sharing posture during discussion before the vote.

Votes at a glance

- Annual budget, 2025–26: Motion to adopt the middle-column budget based on the governor’s December proposal. Total: $282,794,199. Outcome: approved. Roll call (as recorded): Mister Greenway — yes; Miss Pecani — yes; Mister Hudson — yes; Miss Plummer — yes; other members present voted yes. (Motion/second: not specified in transcript.)

- 2025–26 RCPS pay plan: Approved as presented. Outcome: approved. Roll call (as recorded): Mister Greenway — yes; Mister Johnny — yes; Mister Hudson — yes; Miss Clement — yes; other members present voted yes.

- Health, dental and vision insurance benefits for 2025–26: Approved. The board endorsed adding a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) paired with a health savings account (HSA), a HealthKeepers HMO option and employer HSA/HRA contributions tied to the wellness program. Outcome: approved. Roll call (as recorded): Mister Greenway — yes; Missus Petrone — yes; Mister Hudson — yes; other members present voted yes.

- 2026–2035 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): Approved and will be conveyed to the county for inclusion in the countywide plan. Outcome: approved. Roll call (as recorded): Mister Greenway — yes; Mister Pecanik — yes; other members present voted yes.

- Student fee schedule for 2025–26: Approved. Outcome: approved. Roll call (as recorded): Mister Greenway — yes; Mister Plummer — yes; other members present voted yes.

- Exception to Policy 3.44 — name William Byrd High School softball field for Coach Greg Barton: The board approved an exception to policy 3.44 and named the field for Greg Barton. Outcome: approved. Roll call (as recorded): Mister Greenwood — yes; Mister Johnny — yes; Mister Hudson — yes; Miss Clemons — yes; Mister Columbus — yes.

- Redistricting: Approved request to reassign a designated area currently assigned to Burlington Elementary School to Mountain View Elementary School effective at the start of the 2025–26 school year. Staff said letters were sent to affected households and that outreach yielded supportive responses. Outcome: approved. Roll call (as recorded): Mister Greenway — yes; Miss Pajonic — yes; Mister Hudson — yes; other members present voted yes.

- Actions from closed session: The board voted to uphold recommendations of expulsion for two students identified in the meeting as student number 2024-2025007 and student number 2024-2025008. Outcome: both expulsions upheld. Roll call (as recorded): Mister Greenway — yes; Miss Pajonic — yes; Mister Hudson — yes; Miss Clements — yes; Mister Columbus — yes.

What the record shows and what it does not: Motions were recorded as made and seconded; the transcript records roll-call “yes” votes from board members present for each action. The transcript did not consistently identify the individual who made or seconded each specific motion by name, so mover/second are recorded as not specified when not explicitly stated in the transcript.

Next steps: With board approval, the adopted budget will be conveyed to the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors by the April 1 deadline and presented at the supervisors’ April 8 meeting; the CIP will be transmitted to the county for its planning process. Several board members said staff will revisit compensation if additional county or state revenue becomes available.