Spotsylvania superintendent unveils $499 million FY2026 proposed budget, identifies $20.9M local gap

Spotsylvania County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mitchell and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Treya presented the division's FY2026 superintendent's proposed budget on the evening of a January 2025 special meeting, saying the all‑funds proposal totals $499,000,000.

The proposal narrows a needs‑based total gap of $46,600,000 to a superintendent's recommended local gap of $20,900,000 by trimming preliminary requests and taking a tiered, multiyear approach to staffing and pay adjustments. Mr. Treya said the increase from FY2025 reflects roughly $58.6 million in changes year‑over‑year, with substantial new state funding and capital timing factors.

Why it matters: the draft budget sets priorities that would affect classroom staffing, pay and special programs across the county. Dr. Mitchell told the board he pursued a collaborative revision process with county leaders and board members to identify a package the Board of Supervisors is likelier to consider during upcoming joint budget discussions.

Most important details - Mr. Treya, the division CFO, said the proposed all‑funds FY2026 total equals "$499,000,000" and represents a 13.3% year‑over‑year increase compared with FY2025 adopted figures. - The superintendent said staff reduced an initial $46.6 million needs request to a $20.9 million recommended local gap via cuts and prioritization; he described the approach as “tiered” and intended to chip away at unmet needs over multiple years. - Top budget priorities, reflected in the superintendent’s proposed package, are competitive teacher and support‑staff pay (a proposed 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment for all employees plus steps for teachers/paras), special education (additional FTEs to meet SOQ and IEP requirements), English‑learner staffing (25 FTEs required under new SOQ phases) and targeted career and technical education (CTE) expansions (three added high‑school teachers for welding, culinary and cosmetology and seven middle‑school “career investigation” positions). - The presentation lists compliance‑driven FTE requests (78 positions, $5.1M) and other critical improvements, including counselors, psychologists and behavioral coaches. The superintendent noted some positions were funded through state allocations carried into FY2025.

Budget mechanics and revenue assumptions The division’s revenue picture in the proposed budget includes approximately $7,700,000 of additional state funding for FY2026, roughly $4,000,000 in state support for cost‑of‑living provisions, and modest federal adjustments; the local transfer is presented as flat in the draft pending the county administrator’s recommended budget. Mr. Treya emphasized the increase in debt service on the county side and said the $20.9 million gap does not include debt service.

Staffing and program highlights - Workforce investments: the proposal retains a 3% COLA for all employees (an estimated $8.4M in cost, with the state covering about $4M), teacher and paraeducator steps (approx. $3.4M), and targeted market/scale adjustments for principals, assistant principals and certain coordinator roles. - Special education: the proposed budget requests 46 FTEs for SPED staffing and additional paraeducators and specialists tied to state SOQ (standards of quality) ratios and rising autism and IEP caseloads. Dr. Mitchell referenced state code and the division’s two‑year phasing requirement to reach compliance. - English‑learner (EL) staffing: VDOE changes require a two‑year ramp; the division projects hiring 25 additional EL teachers in FY2026 to meet the second phase even if L‑student counts remain flat. - Career & Technical Education: the proposed budget includes three high‑school CTE teachers (welding, culinary, cosmetology), a nurse for the SCTC and seven middle‑school career investigation teachers to give all middle‑school students exposure to CTE pathways.

Board and process notes Board members asked for additional supporting materials (side‑by‑side revenue/spending history, accreditation data and breakdowns of specific staffing requests). Dr. Mitchell encouraged members to submit detailed follow‑up questions by email so staff can prepare answers for the Monday work session and the February adoption timeline. The superintendent said the division had held nine meetings with county staff and supervisors to negotiate and explain requests.

What’s next The school board will hold a public hearing and budget work session the following Monday and additional work sessions before a planned February adoption and a joint presentation to the Board of Supervisors.

Ending note Dr. Mitchell framed the plan as a multi‑year path to narrow longstanding funding shortfalls and said the division will continue to prioritize classroom staffing, mandated compliance and targeted program expansions while coordinating with county officials.