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Superintendent seeks $496K in local funding, raises and hires in FY‑26 budget update
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Ladue presented a FY‑26 budget built on the legislature's crossover numbers, proposing a 4.5% pay package, targeted hires including a grant writer and behavioral staff, and a $495,729 funding gap that would need local support if the governor signs the crossover budget.
Superintendent Dr. Ladue presented a draft FY‑26 operating budget to the Gloucester County School Board on March 11, saying the presentation reflected the Virginia General Assembly's crossover numbers and represents a best‑case funding scenario.
The budget presentation said the division projects an operating budget of about $74 million and, under the crossover budget assumptions, faces a local funding gap of $495,729. "The crossover budget represents a best case scenario," Dr. Ladue said in the presentation.
Why it matters: the division's spending priorities include districtwide pay increases and targeted student supports at a time when federal pandemic funds are winding down. The superintendent urged the board to consider a mix of local funding and internal savings to close the gap but cautioned the final picture depends on the governor's action during veto session.
Most important proposals and figures presented - Pay: the administration recommended a 4.5% raise ("1 step buck plus COLA") for staff to remain competitive, with the superintendent noting the increase will not fully close compensation gaps but should help recruitment and retention. - New and expanded positions: the presentation proposed hiring a grant writer (listed as $84,885 in the slides), three elementary behavioral specialists (slide amount stated as $229,006.95), and school‑based social workers (amount shown in the slide text as "$3.82 a 75"). The board presentation used those slide figures verbatim. - Transportation: raise the bus driver starting wage to $20.00 per hour, which the presentation estimated at a cost of $30,009.58 to the operating budget. - Grants fund: staff proposed establishing a separate grants fund to avoid commingling federal/state grant dollars with local operating funds; the slides list an estimated $3,526,472 in anticipated grants (a mix of recurring federal and state grants and an item for unanticipated competitive grants).
Revenue and gap Dr. Ladue's slides showed projected state revenue increases compared with FY25 but also warned of a projected federal funding decline and the eventual loss of one‑time pandemic funds. After identified cost savings and reductions, the superintendent said the division still faces a funding shortfall of $495,729 under the crossover budget assumptions.
Board discussion and next steps Board members asked for more detail about the grant assumptions and whether the grant fund figures rely on awards that are not guaranteed. Finance staff said recurring federal grants (Titles I, II, IV, Perkins, and IDEA) are regular annual awards, while the line for "unanticipated grants" represents competitive awards the division could pursue but does not guarantee.
Dr. Duran, who presented the grant fund detail, told the board that any grant dollars would be appropriated and spent only after the division received award notices, and that the proposed grant writer position was intended to increase the division's ability to capture competitive funds.
What remains unresolved: the budget rests on the legislature's final actions and the governor's veto decisions. Dr. Ladue and staff said they will revise the proposal if the final state budget differs from the crossover numbers and continue discussions with the county about the local share and specific staffing decisions.
Ending: The board scheduled a budget work session March 13 and must submit a recommended school budget to the county by April 1, with potential adoption by the school board May 13.
