Frederick County schools superintendent previews needs-based budget, timeline and pay priorities

Dr. Hummer, superintendent, told the Finance Committee on Jan. 15 that he will present a needs-based budget to the school board next Tuesday and outlined a timeline that includes a public hearing on Feb. 4 and a target school-board adoption on Feb. 18 ahead of county consideration.

The presentation explained why the timeline matters: the division must submit its budget to the Board of Supervisors for inclusion in the county appropriations process, and the county's actions affect the division's final budget and tax-rate advertising. "We are jumping into the first phase of our budget process where we are gonna be presenting my needs based budget to you on Tuesday," Dr. Hummer said. He told the committee members that the presentation will be posted in advance and that the Feb. 4 public hearing will be held at James Wood Middle School to allow for space and public input.

Nut graf: The committee heard high-level parameters that will shape the superintendent's formal proposal next week: the division's operating fund is funded roughly 50% by the state, 46% by the county and 4% by the federal government; personnel costs account for about 83% of operating expenditures; and timing of state budget actions can change the final local allocation. That mix, plus state deadlines, will determine how much the division can propose and how soon changes can be finalized.

Key dates and process details included in the presentation:

- The division plans a public hearing on Feb. 4 (location: James Wood Middle School) and a school-board adoption of the superintendent's needs-based budget on Feb. 18. Dr. Hummer said the division will present the full proposal to the board at the next meeting and that the materials will be posted in advance.

- The division must submit its budget to the county governing body in time for the county to include it in appropriation and tax-rate advertising. Dr. Hummer reviewed state timing guidance the division uses: submission to the county by April 1, a target governing-body adoption by May 15 (which can be delayed up to 30 days if state estimates arrive late), and a June 30 deadline for local adoption of the tax rate and budget. (The presentation cited these deadlines as state-code requirements.)

- Funding mix: the operating fund relies on an approximate 50% state share, 46% local required match and about 4% federal funds (a share that is lower now that ESSER one-time funds have expired). Dr. Hummer said roughly 75% of operating spending goes to instruction, 9% to facilities, 6% to transportation and 5% to technology and other services.

Salary- and staffing-related proposals the committee heard:

- The superintendent previewed compensation scenarios and five-year pay goals. A minimum 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) across staff was estimated at about $4.3 million. The governor's proposed 3% compensation initiative was shown as a $5.2 million figure for the division.

- The division reported a starting teacher salary increase to $52,000 this year (from $50,000 last year). The presentation reiterated a $5,000 retention incentive for teachers with 25 or more years of experience and said the division aims to phase out "years-experience clustering" on pay scales and to cap pay-scale steps at 30 years over time.

- Ms. Anderson, who gave budget-detail slides, said the division is "almost 2,600 full time equivalent positions" and projected enrollment of just over 14,800 students for next year; she also described the division as a "people-intensive business," with 83% of operating funds going to salary and benefits.

Committee members pressed staffing and retention issues during discussion. One member noted that "31% of all of our teachers are leaving us and going to Loudoun County," and several members said retention of mid-career teachers (roughly years 10—2) is a particular concern that the superintendent's five-year compensation plan will try to address.

Ending: The superintendent asked board members to submit questions in advance of next week's presentation so staff can provide specific estimates and comparisons; the full needs-based budget will be presented to the board at the scheduled meeting next week for discussion and possible revision prior to the Feb. 18 adoption vote.