WCPS staff previews FY27 budget priorities; board discusses safety, lunches and programming

Finance staff presented recommended budget priorities for fiscal year 2027 and asked the board to confirm high‑level goals mirroring FY26 priorities: culture/safety/wellness; student success; access and opportunity; and community engagement.

“Doctor Zettenmeier, members of the board, doctor Seffine. … We spent a significant amount of time as staff in the fall, gathering data, meeting with individuals, executive directors meeting with building principals, finance team myself, doctor Savine, doctor Willow meeting with department heads to talk about their needs as we think about the f y 27 year,” a WCPS finance presenter said, outlining the planning work behind the draft budget.

Staff summarized FY26 allocations by priority: roughly $18 million added in the culture/safety/wellness category (including 18 paraprofessionals, one full‑time athletic director for Hancock High School and four elementary assistant principals), about $4.5 million for student success (13 new teaching positions, 15 paraprofessionals, 70 student apprentices, summer school and instructional materials), and a little over $1 million in access and opportunity (additional bus drivers, AP/IB registration fees and transportation contract increases).

“Near of access and opportunity…we added additional bus driver positions as we talked about late in the budget cycle,” the presenter said, explaining that the district hopes to reduce a fourth‑tier bus assignment by growing the bus driver pool.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the meaning of “culture” in the budget and suggested specific priorities. “Not culture related to ethnic culture, but more the feel in a building,” one board member said; another member asked whether culture investments are primarily policy or budgetary. Staff answered that culture investments include survey work and that much of the line‑item spending is driven by safety and wellness needs.

Several board members urged the district to pursue healthier school meals and discussed operational constraints. “I would like to throw out that, 1 thing I'd really like us to look at is healthier school lunches,” a board member said, asking whether changes could be achieved without adding to the general fund. The finance presenter replied that while federal meal patterns set nutritional requirements, the principal barriers to menu change are student taste preferences, staffing and equipment, and cost—adding scratch‑cooking or local sourcing would likely require investments in culinary staffing and facilities and would increase program costs above current reimbursements.

Members also advocated for expanded programming tied to student engagement and behavior. One board member recommended exploring programming for students with significant behavioral needs and suggested partnering with initiatives such as “Landon's project.” Another asked for updates on student apprenticeships, the Connected program and summer school to assess effectiveness.

A board member proposed enhanced elementary music programs to improve attendance and engagement. “I'm going to put my band cap on, and I'm going to advocate for an enhanced music program in elementary school,” the member said, calling for more frequent music instruction and instrument availability.

Staff asked the board for high‑level alignment of FY27 priorities with FY26 and said a draft FY27 budget would be brought to the board in January for further review.