Budget workshop: staff outline possible $16.3M in additional state funding, discuss vacancies, bonuses and program costs

Crystal Pate presented the division’s second budget workshop to the School Board in February 2025 and described a General Assembly budget package that could provide roughly $16,300,000 in additional state funding for the division pending the governor’s approval.

Pate outlined how that $16.3 million would be allocated in the House and Senate proposals staff reviewed: approximately $10,900,000 to amend the support-position staffing standard, $2,700,000 for technical updates (enrollment and other updates), and $2,700,000 as an add-on for special education funding. The package also includes a $1,000 bonus effective June 1, 2025, for Standards of Quality (SOQ) instructional and support positions; staff said the board can elect how to distribute that $1,000 and cautioned that the governor must still act by March 24.

Dr. J. Robertson (Superintendent) and staff described budget trade-offs the division has already made: debt service and PAYGO totals sit at $50,071,611 and $3,000,000 respectively in the current planning materials, and the division included $25,000,000 in CIP allocations for other projects. To balance the proposed operating budget, staff described an $11,700,000 staffing-based reduction scenario and said they recommend narrowing that vacancy gap to about $5,500,000 to maintain a fill rate in the 75–80% range and limit impacts on teaching and learning.

Board members pressed for details on specific program costs and operational questions during the Q&A. Notable staff clarifications included:

- Student activities: The total student-activities budget listed was $6,170,439; the “biggest cost” slide showed $5,034,477 for the top five expense categories and staff said the remainder covers custodial, insurance, tournaments and similar items.

- Esports: Staff said new school-activity approval is required and estimated recurring costs of about $65,000 per year and an initial investment figure that varies by school; staff also listed recurring internet costs (Cox connection $350/mo per school) and equipment estimates.

- Chromebooks: Staff said about 50% of K–2 device funding comes from grants; replacing 1:1 Chromebooks in K–2 with shared sets of ~15 devices per classroom would save about $235,380 annually, roughly half of which would come from the division’s operating budget.

- McKinney-Vento transportation: Staff confirmed a line item of about $1,700,000 tied to transportation costs (taxis) required under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to transport homeless students to school.

- Green Run Collegiate and transfers: Staff said the division makes transfers from the operating budget to other funds and identified the transfer to Green Run Collegiate at approximately $5,000,000 (annual transfer as presented).

Board members also raised workforce development and staffing questions. Vice Chair Weems and others asked staff to produce a clear accounting of how much of the budget supports workforce and career-technical programs. Dr. Robertson said workforce development and Perkins-grant-supported career and technical education are included in the budget and that additional course expansions have been approved; staff said they would supply a line-item breakdown and comparative documentation against peer divisions.

On compensation, staff discussed several possible uses of additional state funds: reducing the staffing vacancy gap, paying the $1,000 SOQ bonus for eligible positions, distributing a prorated bonus to all employees, or enhancing step increases and starting-salary adjustments. Dr. Robertson warned that excluding employees from any bonus could harm morale.

No formal board vote on budget allocations occurred during the workshop. Staff reminded the board that the school division’s operating budget and CIP are scheduled for a board vote on March 11, and any state funds approved after that date would require a post-approval amendment if the governor acts later.

Next steps: staff will provide requested breakdowns (workforce development totals, senior-staff and department staffing counts, travel policies, specific cost estimates for esports and technology scenarios) and return to the board with recommended budget amendments if new state revenue is approved.