Stafford superintendent presents $490.7 million FY26 funding request, cites $14.2 million gap

Dr. Smith, superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools, presented the FY26 superintendent's funding request to the Stafford County School Board, outlining a proposed $490.7 million budget and saying the division faces a $14.2 million gap between foundational needs and projected revenue.

The request, described by Dr. Smith as "an estimate of our school division's needs," calls for targeted investments in staffing, special programs and facilities to keep pace with rapid enrollment growth and state staffing requirements. She proposed a 3% average salary increase for all Stafford Schools employees and requested $11 million to fund that compensation increase.

Dr. Smith said the proposed FY26 budget relies primarily on state and local funding — about 61.2% from the state and 36.7% from the county in the presentation — and that the governor's proposed budget plus county administrator guidance account for the 3.4% projected revenue increase. "This is not a balanced funding request," she said, adding that the division would need an additional $14.2 million in state or local funding to fully fund the items in the proposal.

Why it matters: Stafford County is among Virginia's fastest-growing localities and the school division's enrollment has climbed to 32,268 students, Dr. Smith said, representing roughly 19.2% of the county population. The division employs more than 5,400 people, about 71% of whom live in Stafford County, and she said 85% of the division's budget goes toward compensation and benefits.

Key figures and priorities - Total proposed FY26 budget: $490,700,000 (as presented). - Projected revenue increase for FY26: 3.4% (comprised in the presentation of $10.5 million from the governor's proposed budget and $5.0 million per county administrator guidance). - Funding gap to fully fund the presented items: $14,200,000. - Unfunded identified needs (requests pared): $59,000,000 (items cut from the initial requests to arrive at the current proposal). - Proposed compensation: 3% average across all employees; $11,000,000 requested for compensation increases. - Staffing additions cited to meet Virginia Standards of Quality: 36.5 English learner teachers, 7 reading specialists, 1 gifted teacher (positions described in the presentation as necessary to meet minimum staffing ratios). - Per-pupil expenditure cited: $13,678, described as about $2,000 below the state median in the presentation.

Dr. Smith outlined program and capacity investments including initial staffing for three new schools (elementary schools 18 and 19 and High School 6), a new business and information technology specialty center at Colonial Forge High School (including a 0.8 FTE lead and $50,000 for materials), and $8.5 million for staffing growth tied to new schools. She also proposed one-time uses of carryover funds for urgent needs: $3.1 million for Chromebook replacement and $700,000 for classroom supplies; she said the division would propose up to $1,500,000 from carryover for bus replacements "if available."

State requirements and risks Dr. Smith cited the Code of Virginia and the Virginia Standards of Quality in explaining that growth in English learners and students with disabilities requires additional staffing. She said the number of students in 504 plans has risen from 3,082 (11%) in 2014 to 6,743 (21%) in 2024, and that English learner enrollment has grown 211% since 2014 to 4,701 students. She warned that failing to provide the minimum staffing required by the Standards of Quality could affect state funding: "We are required to provide at least a 1.5% average increase this year, in order to receive the state share in the biennium budget," Dr. Smith said, adding that not meeting that threshold could put approximately $5.5 million in state funding at risk.

Board member questions and next steps Board members asked clarifying questions about how the proposal treats phased scale adjustments for teacher and support-staff pay, the composition of the $59 million in unmet requests, and the timetable for finalizing the school division's request before the Board of Supervisors considers county funding. Miss Healy asked for the division and county administration to be kept apprised should more state funding become likely: "As we move forward with the state funding, can we be kept apprised…if there's likelihood of additional state funding?" she said.

Staff said budget town halls are scheduled and that a public hearing will be held on Feb. 11, with school board approval expected Feb. 25; the presentation will then go to the Board of Supervisors and be considered under the county's process. Dr. Smith said the FY26 superintendent's funding request book is available online.

Votes at a glance - Authorization for Dr. Chase to participate electronically: motion passed, 5-0 (tally announced in the meeting). - Motion to approve the meeting agenda: motion passed, 6-0 (tally announced in the meeting).

Ending Dr. Smith closed the presentation by reiterating that the request is intended to address growth, support staff, and meet state standards of quality, and she invited continued community engagement through upcoming town halls and public hearings.