Frederick County School Board adopts FY‑26 budget with bus, tech changes after debate on teacher pay, preschool and school meals

The Frederick County School Board voted Feb. 25 to adopt Superintendent Dr. Hamer’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget with two amendments: add four school bus replacements (up from two) and reduce the technology refresh allotment from $100,000 to $75,000.

Board members approved the motion by roll call: Atkins, Erskine, Klein, Sturtevant, Bell, Funes and Martin all voted aye. The amended adoption does not change the superintendent’s original pay‑scale proposal, which remains the motion on the table.

The budget vote capped a two‑hour work session in which board members and staff discussed five items the board asked the division to re‑examine: teacher pay scales, additional school buses, a technology reduction, preschool/VPI programming and the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for school meals. Superintendent Dr. Hamer presented timeline context for the FY‑26 process, noting the division will send the adopted budget to the Board of Supervisors for appropriation in April and that the board can reallocate funds after appropriation but cannot exceed the county’s appropriation.

Why it matters: the budget sets staffing, program and capital priorities for the coming school year and will be incorporated into the county appropriation process. Several board members framed the vote as balancing teacher recruitment and retention, services for early‑childhood students and stewardship of local taxpayer dollars.

Teacher pay scales: Dr. Hamer reviewed the division’s needs‑based pay proposal and three pay‑scale options discussed by staff and the finance…