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Gloucester officials present preliminary FY2026 budget, warn state funding shortfall will not cover costs
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Vladeau presented a preliminary FY2026 budget to the Gloucester County School Board on Jan. 28, citing a $77.8 million current operating budget, declining enrollment, the end of ESSER funds and understaffed state formula funding (SOQs) as major challenges; no budget vote was taken.
Gloucester County School Board members on Jan. 28 heard a preliminary FY2026 budget presentation from Superintendent Dr. Vladeau, who said the division is operating on a current-year budget of $77,794,229 and outlined enrollment-driven funding pressures, the loss of federal ESSER funding and a shortfall between state Standards of Quality (SOQ) funding and actual local staffing and operating needs.
The presentation, delivered during a budget work session, laid out why the superintendent said the board must consider both additional revenue and efficiency measures. "I couldn't be more proud than the work that our staff are doing," Dr. Vladeau said, while also warning that "you cannot run a public school when you're funded at SOQ levels." The board took no formal vote on the FY2026 budget at the meeting.
Dr. Vladeau said most K‑12 funding formulas are enrollment-driven and noted recent enrollment stability or slight decline, citing Cooper Center (University of Virginia) projections that enrollment is likely to stay steady…
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