Budget outlook: Henry County schools eye 3% scale increase and prioritize safety, early reading and special education

Henry County Public Schools staff presented a budget-development update to the school board Feb. 11, saying the division is monitoring action in the Virginia General Assembly and preparing a FY2026 budget that would need to accommodate several priorities including a potential 3% pay increase for teachers.

Budget staff reported the figures presented had not changed since the board’s January briefing, but noted the House and Senate had both acted on their respective versions of the state budget and the division was awaiting the final reconciliation and the governor’s review. Staff said the governor’s amendment and the legislative proposals include additional funding that could support a 3% adjustment to the teacher scale and other targeted increases such as additional support for English learners.

Staff provided an illustrative breakdown of the cost of a 3% increase on the current personnel scale. The presentation listed estimated costs by personnel group (classroom teachers, classified staff, bus drivers and aides, administrators) and said the total additional cost for the 3% scale increase presented to the board would be in the low millions of dollars; the division noted it would need to identify about $1 million within the existing budget to meet the governor’s amendment numbers as presented that evening.

Budget staff also summarized feedback from four advisory groups (teacher advisory, support staff, parent advisory and student advisory) collected via surveys. Safety and security measures and early-reading programs ranked highest overall; the teacher advisory group placed early reading at the top, support staff prioritized special education, parent advisers ranked early reading and safety highly, and students placed extracurricular activities highest but also ranked safety and career-technical programs near the top. The division’s FY2026 total budget estimate shown in the presentation still included the division’s current totals for instruction, transportation, operations and federal/state programs; staff reiterated local revenue and Board of Supervisors support remain key to finalizing the plan.

Board members asked questions about how the 3% increase would be applied across the scale and whether it would affect step increases. Staff responded the 3% would be applied to the salary scale (steps 1 through 30) and that combinations of percentage increases and step movement could be used to reach an overall 3% average. A board member also asked about the timing and form of any bonuses being discussed at the state level; staff said the House and Senate proposals differed on the timing and structure of any bonus, and the division was tracking those differences.

Staff outlined other priorities that would require funding if adopted, including additional English-language teaching positions, gifted-education teachers, full-time substitute teachers for each school, special-education positions, transportation and technology needs, and a facilities budget if local funding becomes available. The presentation reiterated that the 1% local sales tax is dedicated to school construction, renovations and security upgrades.

The board did not take a final budget vote; staff said updated budget materials will be provided in March and the board’s joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors is scheduled in the near-term to continue budget discussions.