Charlottesville City Schools provided a budget update on March 27 that included a one-time state-funded bonus for SOQ-funded instructional and support positions, and a superintendent recommendation to add four FTEs in the FY26 budget (three elementary enrollment-driven positions and one attendance officer).

State bonus: The state allocated $471,712 to the district for a one-time $1,000 bonus for SOQ-funded instructional and support positions to be paid no later than June 1; the district reported Social Security taxes are included in that allocation. The presentation said the district has 526.59 FTEs beyond the state’s SOQ-funded positions; to extend a $1,000 bonus to all instructional and support positions the district would need an additional $449,998 and planned to cover that amount from FY25 vacancy savings. Staff estimated roughly $746,000 in vacancy savings available at fiscal year-end and proposed using that to extend bonuses.

Bonus eligibility and payout rules: Staff said employees must be employed with CCS on the last day of school (May 30) and return for the first work day in August to receive the bonus; if an employee resigns during the summer, the bonus would be deducted from their FY25 contract payout. The district said the bonus is intended to promote retention.

FY26 additions and rationale: The superintendent recommended amending the FY26 budget to add three FTEs to address elementary enrollment growth and one FTE to create an attendance officer role. Staff described the attendance officer as a tier‑3 truancy-focused position intended to separate truancy enforcement and court referral duties from mental-health staff. Presenters said that mental-health staff had been performing truancy work and that separating roles protects therapeutic relationships.

Board questions and discussion: Board members sought additional detail about the attendance officer’s caseload and whether the new FTE is full time; Ms. Hoover affirmed the position would be full time and said it would likely prioritize secondary schools initially. Several board members raised questions about who should receive the state bonus and whether highly compensated, non-student-facing administrators should be eligible; staff noted the state’s allocation is tied to SOQ positions and said administrators are included under current rules. Board members discussed whether bonuses should be targeted or extended broadly.

Next steps: The superintendent will return to the board at the May 1 meeting with a recommendation to authorize the $1,000 bonus distribution and to amend the FY26 budget by $385,077 to add the recommended FTEs.