Louisa County superintendent presents FY26 spending plan emphasizing pay increases, new staff and use of one‑time federal funds

Superintendent Straley presented the Louisa County Public Schools proposed budget framework for fiscal year 2025–26, asking the board to consider operational increases, personnel additions and compensation adjustments while continuing select uses of one‑time federal funds.

"We say we're on a journey of greatness in all we do," Straley told the board as he outlined nine years of program investments and a proposed budget that focuses on staffing, instruction and compensation.

Straley said earlier appropriations from the locality already provide about $1,133,761 for positions approved in June and September. He detailed personnel additions he said the division needs next year: four additional teachers (three special‑education teachers and one physical‑education teacher), an additional high‑school counselor, an instructional assistant for a particular elementary school, two custodians for the new middle school and an HVAC technician. Straley said the total fiscal impact of those personnel additions is about $670,000 (salaries, benefits and related costs included).

On compensation, Straley proposed a certified staff raise combining a 3% across‑the‑board increase plus step increases that average 1.4%, which he said translates to roughly $2,260,000; a 4% increase for classified staff estimated at $697,000; and a three‑year plan to raise degree supplements for master’s and doctoral pay that would be phased in (Straley said $58,000 represents one‑third of that phase‑in cost). He described total compensation increases as just over $3,000,000.

Operational and instructional requests in the presentation included $180,000 for software and licenses, $45,000 for STEAM lab supplies and equipment, $97,000 for expanded summer school, $210,000 for maintenance supplies and $150,000 for utilities. Straley said the operational requests total just over $1.4 million, not including health‑insurance cost increases the county is still estimating.

Straley discussed continued use of saved federal ESSER funds and a one‑time All In Virginia allocation. He said the division previously requested $2,200,000 from the turned‑back fund last year and is requesting $940,000 from the fund this year. He also said the governor’s budget would provide about $1,900,000 in additional state funding under the current draft, but he cautioned that state figures are subject to change.

During the public budget hearing, Daphne McDougall, a parent from the Mountain Road District, spoke in support of the proposed budget. "I'm Daphne McDougall... I wanted to speak in support of the proposed budget," she told the board, praising the district’s programs and the administration’s stewardship of funds.

Board members asked follow‑up questions about estimated health‑insurance and workers'‑comp increases, timing for custodial hires for the new middle school and the impact of local population growth on enrollment and staffing. Straley said he expected health‑insurance estimates within a few weeks and reiterated the superintendent’s hope that personnel and operational requests preserve programs and staffing levels that district leaders view as central to student support.

The board opened the first public hearing on the FY26 budget at the meeting; no budget vote occurred at the session. Routine motions earlier in the meeting approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda; trustees also voted to recognize three community businesses and to reschedule a March meeting date. The board adjourned at the end of the session.