Campbell County School Board adopts FY26 budget with 3% pay raise; board passes motions by voice vote

The Campbell County Public Schools Board of Education approved its proposed FY26 budget at the March 24 meeting, voting by voice to adopt the spending plan after a presentation from Superintendent Doctor Stanley.

Doctor Stanley summarized the budget’s primary goals as a 3% raise for all staff, added 2.5 gifted positions at the elementary level and targeted salary-scale adjustments for transportation. "The first being 3% raise for all staff," Stanley told the board, and he said the budget added two-and-a-half gifted positions and one additional teacher assigned to Yellow Branch.

Stanley said the district offset those investments with across-the-board reductions averaging about 1% and savings related to a health insurance change to BayCorp. He noted there was no change in the Virginia Retirement System employer contribution rate built into the proposal. "We had a very nice savings when it came to our health insurance when we had our switch to Bay Corp," he said.

Budget materials presented at the meeting compared five-year compensation trends: classified and administrative staff compensation increased about 28% from FY22 to FY26, while teacher pay rose about 21% in the same period, according to a public commenter’s and staff slides shown during the meeting. A citizen commentator, Mr. Zanzik, drew attention to statewide SOL test results and to comparative teacher-pay data, warning the district may lose veteran teachers to nearby systems that pay more.

On state-proposed one-time bonuses, Stanley said the district set aside funds so it can pay a $1,000 bonus for full-time employees (and $500 for part-time) if authorized and that the payment would be made on the May 31 payroll if available. "But we set aside that money already, so we're good," he said.

The board also approved two routine actions by voice vote during the meeting: election of Barry Jones as chairman pro tem (motion by an unnamed board member; second indicated) and approval of the March 10 meeting minutes (motion by Mr. Maddox, second by Ms. Tanner). Later, a motion by Mr. Maddox, seconded by Ms. Townley, carried to adopt the FY26 budget as presented.

No roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript; clerks recorded voice votes. Superintendent Stanley noted that the General Assembly could alter state funding and that the board would return with amendments if the final state budget changes allocations.

The transcript and public comments included requests that the board consider longer-term adjustments to teacher pay scales; staff and the board indicated they will revisit budget amendments should state revenues or appropriations change.