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WJCC superintendent outlines preliminary FY26 budget: $13.9M shortfall vs. governor's estimate, multiple staffing requests
Summary
Staff presented the superintendent—s preliminary FY26 budget priorities including classroom and support staff requests, a recommendation to embed AP exam costs, a projected 15% increase in health‑insurance costs, and discussion of implementing Bolton compensation study recommendations over multiple years.
Williamsburg‑James City County Public Schools staff on Monday presented preliminary details of the superintendent—s FY26 operating budget, highlighting requested positions, program funding and a projected gap between expected state revenue and proposed expenditures.
At a glance: staff reported an estimated increase in state revenue of roughly $2.4 million based on the governor—s proposed amendments, while proposed expenditure adjustments totaled about $16.2 million, producing a net shortfall of approximately $13.9 million that will be a request to local funding partners.
Why it matters: the board must prioritize which staffing and program requests to include in the superintendent—s proposed budget and decide how much to ask the city and county to fund; staff also asked for guidance on whether to implement portions of a recent compensation study now or over multiple years.
Major budget requests and figures
• Health insurance: staff used a 15% working assumption for health‑insurance cost growth; if the increase is split 70/30 between employer and employee as in prior years, staff estimated an employer cost increase of about $2.8 million. The RFP/selection committee will present firm health‑insurance options in March.
• Staffing requests tied to strategic priorities: requests include 1 additional assistant principal for the Bright Beginnings pre‑K program (the program serves roughly 85 staff across five elementary sites and about 400 students currently, projected to support close to 500 once two new centers open), 2 additional gifted and talent development teachers for K–2 at two elementary schools, 9 elementary teacher assistant positions (one per elementary) to support emotional regulation and reduce exclusionary discipline, 6 additional paraprofessionals to support self‑contained elementary special‑education classrooms, and four positions to sustain a secondary Reset program in the Restorative Center.
• AP exams: staff proposed embedding the cost of Advanced Placement exams in the operating budget to remove barriers to participation. In 2023‑24, students sat for 1,408 AP exams while 2,377 students were enrolled in AP courses (about a 59% exam participation rate); staff recommended a goal of 100% participation for 2025‑26.
• Summer programs and professional learning: staff requested $320,000 to continue the expanded summer school program previously supported with ESSER funds, plus $20,000 for completion of a second phase of cognitive‑coaching training and $20,000 for curriculum‑based summer professional learning.
• Compensation study and salaries: Bolton—s compensation recommendations total an estimated $7.6 million (about $1.7 million for combining support/admin scales and $5.9 million for teacher scale adjustments). Staff offered a three‑year phased implementation option (one‑third next year: $600,000 for general scale adjustments and $1.9 million for teacher pay) and noted that a separate 3% statewide salary increase (estimated at $1.3 million per 1% locally) would still apply.
• Bus drivers and transportation: the board discussed sustaining a $3/hour increase for bus drivers (estimated $423,000 for FY26) and acknowledged current challenges recruiting drivers and providing after‑school transportation for extracurricular activities.
• Facilities and maintenance: operations staff said industry benchmarks suggest WJCC needs 42 maintenance FTEs to meet facility square‑footage standards and that the division currently has a shortage of about 22 FTEs.
Budget process and next steps
Staff said the superintendent—s proposed budget will be presented Feb. 18, followed by a public hearing March 4 and a joint budget work session with local funding partners March 14; the board—s formal adoption is scheduled for March 18. Staff also listed approximately $7.7 million in needs that were identified but not recommended for inclusion in the superintendent—s proposal at this time, including additional FTEs and stipend requests.
Votes at a glance
• Motion: approve agenda as presented — approved 6–0 (Mrs. Hunley moved; Mr. Riffle seconded). The motion occurred at the meeting start; the agenda vote is recorded in the minutes.
Ending: staff asked board members to submit SBQs (staff‑board questions) for follow‑up details and indicated they may schedule an additional budget workshop if members need more time to prioritize requests.
