Goochland superintendent presents proposed FY26 budget with $892,981 in new revenue; several priorities remain unfunded

Dr. Cromartie, superintendent of Goochland County Public Schools, presented the division’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at the board’s regular meeting, describing a net increase of $892,981 in available funds driven primarily by a $1,384,146 increase in the county transfer.

The presentation laid out projected revenue changes across all funds and the division’s planned investments and “strategic abandonment” reductions. Dr. Cromartie said county transfer now represents about 71% of the division’s revenue and that, after declining federal and state grant funding and other offsets, the overall operating budget increase is about 2 percent over the current year.

Why it matters: the proposed budget determines which positions and programs the school division can fund next year, and the board will use the superintendent’s proposal as it negotiates with the county budget presented to the Board of Supervisors.

Dr. Cromartie told the board the county transfer increase of $1,384,146 is partially offset by revenue losses (federal grant expirations, reduced state revenue and indirect cost reductions) so the division’s total new revenue is $892,981. He detailed proposed investments across three strategic goals: curriculum and instruction ($95,424), inclusive and engaging culture ($713,534), and facilities, resources and technology ($746,581). To help balance those investments, the superintendent listed $662,558 in “strategic abandonment” reductions, including cuts to technology subscriptions, administrative services and textbook/classroom spending. After those offsets the new revenue and new investments balance at $892,981.

Dr. Cromartie identified remaining unfunded priorities totaling $880,897, which include salary and benefits for three interventionists ($282,435), an ESOL teacher ($94,145), a work-based learning coordinator ($121,231), an agriculture teacher at the middle school ($94,145), equity stipends for middle school coaches ($32,000), assistant robotics coach ($19,410 approx.), and two replacement maintenance vehicles ($108,000). The budget also removes the planned purchase of one school bus this year ($147,000), though Dr. Cromartie said the district needs roughly three buses per year to sustain the fleet.

Board members asked about dependence on pending state legislation and the county process. Dr. Cromartie said the division is monitoring a House bill that could delay tuition assistance (ACA tuition) by a year; for Goochland that delay could reduce revenue by roughly $200,000 if enacted. He also explained the timeline: the county administrator will present a recommended county budget that includes the schools’ transfer figure; the school board will convert the superintendent’s proposal into the board’s proposed budget on the date publicized in the agenda, and then present that recommendation to the Board of Supervisors in early March.

Public commenters pressed the board to prioritize student-facing positions. Band booster Melanie Parker and Laurie Brewer urged the board to convert a 0.5 high-school band position into a full-time FTE to address enrollment growth in the marching and concert bands; Dr. Cromartie said current enrollment figures do not yet justify adding the 0.5 FTE. Several residents, including Karen Horn and Lauren Comstock, urged the board to fund interventionists and an ESOL teacher, citing concrete student needs and the impact on learning.

Dr. Cromartie also reported operational matters tied to weather and instructional time. The division has accumulated eight days closed for inclement weather so far this year; the superintendent said the division still meets the state 990-hour requirement but will convert a previously scheduled professional learning day into a full instructional day to recover time. He warned about broadband and power gaps (about 28% of the county without high-speed internet according to his staff review) that complicate any rapid pivot to asynchronous remote instruction.

What’s next: the superintendent’s proposed budget will move through the school board’s review; the county administrator presents his recommended budget that includes the schools; the school board will vote to approve a school board proposed budget and then present it to the Board of Supervisors. Final salary scales and any budget amendments will follow the county process.

Ending: Several board members and residents said they will continue urging the Board of Supervisors for funding aligned to the division’s remaining priorities; the board will hold town halls and a scheduled budget approval meeting in late February before presenting to the supervisors.