Chesapeake School Board OKs updated FY 2025–26 budget, $750 one‑time bonus and $10 million transfer authority

The Chesapeake School Board on May 20 approved an updated fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget, a one‑time $750 bonus for eligible contracted employees and budget transfer authority of up to $10 million to close fiscal 2024–25 accounts.

Board Vice Chair Jennifer Scott moved the consolidated package and Board Member Brian Poole seconded the motion; the measure passed with all board members voting yes.

The action updates the division’s proposed operating revenue to roughly $691 million and total operating, categorical and special fund revenue to about $844.5 million after adjustments from the state and the city. The board also asked the City Council to reappropriate any fiscal year 2024–25 reversions back to Chesapeake Public Schools so the division can direct those one‑time funds during FY 2026 budget development.

Why it matters: The board’s vote authorizes immediate use of new one‑time and recurring revenue to fund priorities the superintendent recommended for the coming year, including elementary teacher planning time, additional classroom teachers, school safety measures, and a targeted compensation increase for instructional and unified staff.

Details and supporting figures - The division presented interim financial reports for March and April 2025: March realized revenue totaled $53,600,000 (about $30,000,000 from the state and $23,500,000 from the city); April realized revenue increased to $57,000,000 (about $31,000,000 state, $23,500,000 city). Federal receipts included $2,100,000 in federal impact aid. - Spring student membership was 39,545, an increase of 93 students above the ADM assumption of 39,452; final state revenues will be based on spring enrollment. - Approximately $20,700,000 in one‑time funds are available: roughly $8,300,000 from the school division’s FY 2023–24 reversion and about $12,400,000 from the city’s FY 2023–24 actual over‑budget revenues; these exclude one‑time funds planned for the CIP. - The board authorized a budget transfer authority of up to $10,000,000 to move funds between non‑personnel line items during year‑end close. - The board approved a recommended one‑time bonus of $750 per eligible contracted employee, prorated by FTE, for staff who are employed as of May 15; the division said the $750 figure reflects a local supplement because the state allocation does not cover a full $1,000 bonus for all positions funded under the state Standards of Quality (SOQ). - The superintendent’s recommended priorities funded with the additional resources include elementary common planning time, five additional classroom teachers, additional administrative positions where needed, school safety equipment and security foyer work, HR recruitment and retention initiatives, continued Modern Classroom implementation, and a 1% additional compensation adjustment that results in an effective 4% increase for teachers and unified staff; the presentation also cited a $56,564 starting teacher salary in the updated proposal.

Board discussion and questions Board Member Walker asked whether the added elementary resource deputy positions and vehicles would come from the sheriff’s department; staff explained the deputies would be recruited within the sheriff’s department, the division purchases the vehicles as part of start‑up costs, and deputies rotate among schools. Board members also asked about restroom renovations at kindergarten and first‑grade classrooms; staff said the work targets older facilities that have not been refurbished in many years.

What’s next Staff will present a detailed list of specific reversion requests for the board’s later approval and provide a final accounting in the FY 2024–25 financial report once year‑end transfers and reconciliations are complete.