Petersburg school board approves draft FY‑26 budget to send to city council, OKs related amendments

The Petersburg City Public Schools Board on March 19 approved the superintendent’s draft fiscal 2026 budget, directing staff to present the $89,018,327 proposal to Petersburg city council. The board also approved a separate motion to increase FY 2024–25 appropriations by $4,523,623.18 and forward the necessary documents to the city for its consideration.

The superintendent’s draft ties new spending to six stated priorities that include talent recruitment, facilities, and instructional support, presenters said. John Wallingford, the district’s chief financial officer consultant, walked the board through technical adjustments that underpin the plan — including a 3% proposed salary increase for staff, an 8% assumed rise in health‑insurance costs and a roughly $300,000 fuel budget increase. Wallingford also apologized for a prior revenue presentation error and explained an approximately $452,000 “other” revenue line is split between the general fund and small grants, a change that adjusts revenue forecasts by about $200,000.

“What's important to note is that this $452,000 is split across two funds,” Wallingford told the board. “I apologize for the mistake.”

Wallingford said the division expects about $5 million in additional state revenue this year and a larger city transfer than in past years; the VDOE calculation included a required transfer figure of roughly $25.4 million that the presenters said will require further conversations with the city finance office. The presentation noted the city transfer recorded in the division’s working assumptions has risen to about $12.3 million in recent years and that staff will request an increase from the city to reflect the VDOE calculation and recommended “needs‑based” support for specific positions (for example, assistant athletic directors and gifted slots).

Superintendent Brown and Dr. Matthias Graywood, the division chief financial officer, answered detailed questions from board members on grant timing, how the division handles incoming grants, and what would happen if grant awards are delayed. Graywood explained that when a grant award arrives mid‑year the process of getting appropriation authority through the school board and city council can take as long as a month, and recommended a budgeted “revenue reserve” so staff can immediately obligate and spend grant funds once an award letter is received. When board member Halvie Miles asked about the time between award and receipt, staff said, “It can take up to a month to actually…get it done.”

Board members pressed for more granular staff and functional breakdowns; several asked that the forthcoming budget book include position‑level detail showing which job classifications fall into state reporting categories such as instruction, administration and facilities. Wallingford said the division intends to publish a budget book in a format similar to earlier award‑winning reports and to provide staffing sheets that map positions to functional categories.

During discussion members also asked how one‑time staff bonuses and governor‑proposed payments would be handled. Superintendent Brown said the division will issue $1,200 from FY‑25 savings to identified employees on the March 28 payroll and, if the governor’s proposed $1,000 payment is approved, that will be an additional, separate payment before the June deadline.

The board voted, by voice vote, to approve both the superintendent’s recommendation to send the draft FY‑26 budget to city council and the recommendation to increase FY‑25 appropriations and forward documents to council. The motions were moved and seconded on the floor and were recorded as carried by the presiding chair.

The board and finance staff said the next formal step will be a presentation to Petersburg city council in early April to request the city transfer and to seek final funding commitments; staff indicated the city presentation was being coordinated for a likely early‑April date with the city finance office. The draft budget and supporting documentation will be available to the public as the review process moves forward.

What happens next: staff will transmit the board‑approved FY‑26 draft and the requested FY‑25 appropriations increase to city council for action. The board also asked staff to return with a detailed budget book and the position‑by‑position staffing sheet before final adoption.