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York County superintendent proposes $201.8 million FY26 operating budget, flags $3.2M gap
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Shandor presented a proposed FY26 operating budget of $201,752,626, citing a ~ $3.2 million gap, projected enrollment increase, proposed 4% pay increases and new positions to meet state/federal requirements; board members raised questions on funding sources and timing of state action.
Superintendent Dr. Shandor presented the York County School Division's proposed FY26 operating budget to the School Board at the Feb. 10 work session, saying the proposal totals $201,752,626 and includes pay and staffing changes intended to meet legal obligations and student needs.
"When we discuss how we make decisions in YCSD, the number 1 question we ask ourselves is what's best for students," Dr. Shandor said as he introduced core values that guided the proposal. He said more than 80% of the operating budget goes to personnel costs and that the proposal focuses on “must haves, legal requirements, state mandates, compensation, and health insurance.”
Key figures and proposals in the presentation included: a projected enrollment of 13,367 students (the presentation also referenced a 401-student enrollment increase projection for FY26), a superintendent-proposed operating budget of $201,752,626 (a 4.4% increase over FY25), an estimated budget gap of roughly $3.2 million, and a recommended average 4% compensation increase for both licensed and non‑licensed staff. The plan also requests funding for roughly 20 additional positions (including an EL teacher, a half-time hearing impaired position, two speech pathologists, and 16 teachers tied to the projected enrollment increase) and $1.1 million to meet an initial health-insurance consultant recommendation.
Finance director Mr. Bowen briefed the board on technical updates to FY25 and state revenue projections tied to enrollment. Bowen said the division was projecting a 176-student increase for the current year that would add about $1.2 million in state funding but that current trend data showed “a little over 100” actual new students and that the enrollment projection could change.
Board members questioned the timing and durability of state revenue projections, potential one-time carryover use and how bonuses would be applied. Dr. Shandor noted the governor’s proposed budget included a $1,000 bonus in one version, but that prior bonus distributions sometimes translated to much smaller per-employee amounts depending on which positions the state targeted for funding. He said, "where it says a thousand dollars, it doesn't mean a thousand dollars" until the final state appropriation and staff counts are known.
The superintendent said the division would hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at the Feb. 24 business meeting, provide a legislative update at the March 10 work session and finalize a school-board approval recommendation for March 24; final county and state actions could still change the proposal.
Why it matters: The proposed budget covers staffing and compensation that directly affect classroom staffing levels, student services and operations. Decisions by the General Assembly and the county on revenue sharing and support will determine whether the proposed increases and new positions are funded.
