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Caroline County School Board approves FY26 superintendent budget proposal
Summary
The Caroline County School Board unanimously approved the superintendent's FY26 operating budget proposal on March 10, endorsing a package that would raise pay, expand student services and requests roughly $2.2 million in additional local funding to close a projected revenue gap.
The Caroline County School Board voted unanimously March 10 to approve the FY26 superintendent's proposed operating budget, which calls for a 3% across-the-board compensation increase, targeted support-staff pay-scale changes, and new positions in exceptional education and student support services.
The proposal, presented by Superintendent Dr. Sarah Kalverick and Chief Operations Officer Marsha Stevens, would cost an estimated $3.6 million for employee compensation initiatives (including a 3% increase and pay-scale adjustments for support staff and teachers), add funding for health-insurance premium increases and several staffing additions, and request approximately $2.2 million in new local funds to close the FY26 revenue gap.
Board Chair Calvin Taylor said the division had taken an inclusive approach to developing priorities. “With over 700 individuals providing feedback, stakeholders identified compensation and benefits, licensed employees, and support staff as the top priorities for FY26,” Dr. Kalverick told the board during the presentation.
Why it matters: The proposal would change pay scales and staffing that administrators said are needed to respond to rising enrollment, an 18% increase in students identified for special education services over the last two years, and to address recruitment and retention gaps for support roles such as custodians and paraprofessionals.
Key provisions: The slate of proposed changes outlines: - A 3% inclusive pay increase for all employees (estimated cost included in the $3.6 million compensation total). - A support-staff scale adjustment raising starting pay (from $12.88 to $13.75 per hour) for large groups of support employees; cost estimated at $1,050,000. - A teacher-scale step adjustment to establish a consistent 1.45% step between teacher pay points; cost estimated at $1,200,000. - Funding to cover a 12% health insurance premium increase (employer share estimated at $775,000). - New or locally funded conversions of positions in exceptional education (five instructional aides and one teacher), four building case managers, a secondary mental-health provider, additional counselors, and other classroom and technology positions to address growth and program needs.
State and revenue context: Chief Operations Officer Marsha Stevens told the board that state revenues for CCPS would increase modestly in FY26 due to ADM growth and other adjustments in the General Assembly budget; the division adopted an ADM projection of 4,340 students for planning. However, the division projects a roughly $2.2 million operating revenue gap if the locality does not increase its contribution; state funds and one-time grants do not cover all requested priorities.
Board discussion: Board members praised the emphasis on support staff and the longitudinal approach to pay changes. Board member Sean Kelly moved to approve the proposed budget; the motion carried on a voice/roll-call vote with all members present voting aye.
Budget vote (summary): The board approved the FY26 superintendent proposed budget as presented. The approval triggers additional steps in the county budgeting process, including presentation to the Board of Supervisors on March 11 and the county administrator's FY26 budget presentation on March 25.
What happens next: Administrators said they will continue to refine budget materials for the Board of Supervisors and the public hearing schedule, and will update staffing and revenue projections at monthly ADM and finance reports.
Ending: The board emphasized community engagement and intergovernmental coordination as the budget moves to the county level; board members and staff asked residents to follow upcoming hearings and joint meetings to track the budget’s local funding decisions.
