School board directs superintendent to recalculate FY‑26 budget, debates staff cuts and new behavioral hires

Madam Chair Arsenovic presided over a Gloucester County School Board work session in which the board directed Superintendent Dr. Gladue to recalculate the division’s FY‑26 budget using the state “crossover” figures and a needs‑based proposal, and to present the corrected numbers at the board’s joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors.

The vote to instruct the superintendent passed on a roll call after a motion to “redirect Dr. Gladue and his team to recalculate the numbers based on the crossover budget and the recommended needs‑based budget” and to present that revised budget at the joint session. Board members voting yes included Mr. Drew, Vice Chair Parker, Mr. Anderson, Ms. Solomon, Ms. Scruggs and Mr. Sinovic; the motion carried.

Why it matters: the superintendent presented a recommended FY‑26 budget totaling $81,988,924 and identified a county appropriation request of $495,729 to close a projected gap. The discussion included proposed investments (ramping up pay and targeted student supports), the expiration of federal ESSER funding and “All‑in‑1” lump‑sum funding, and proposed staffing adjustments that the…