Vestavia Hills holds first FY26 budget hearing; board approves policies, personnel and financial items

The Vestavia Hills City Schools Board of Education met Aug. 25, 2025, and held the first public hearing on the district's fiscal year 2026 budget while approving routine financial and policy items.

Courtney (presenter) summarized the FY26 budget as “a financial expression of our mission to ensure that every student learns without limits,” and outlined personnel additions, revenue assumptions and capital priorities that shape the district's spending plan. The board handled the hearing as the first of two required public hearings; the second is scheduled for Sept. 8, 2025.

The budget hearing highlighted staffing increases intended to maintain class size and expand student supports. Courtney said the FY26 budget adds grade-level teachers at multiple elementary schools (six total), a special education teacher at West, two half‑time English teachers split between the high school and freshman campus, an interventionist and a guidance counselor at the freshman campus, and an assistant principal at the high school. The district reports a total workforce of 942 employees, including 526 teachers; 114 of those teachers are locally funded, the presentation said.

Courtney described the district's revenue mix and fund structure: about 54% of total revenues come from local sources and roughly 40% from the state (total funds), while the general fund alone is projected at about $107.4 million in revenue for FY26 and roughly $105.2 million in expenditures. She said property taxes remain the largest general fund revenue source and that the district expects an estimated beginning fund balance that will yield about a 2‑month reserve (approximately $19 million, or about 2.2 months). Courtney told the board that the capital projects fund will show expenditures in excess of FY26 revenue because of a carryover of state “advancement technology” funds received in FY25; the presentation described roughly $7 million to $7.6 million in such technology allocations carried into FY26 and a $5 million portion reflected in beginning fund balance (the transcript contained both figures).

On capital priorities, Dr. Freeman (speaker) said the district's multiyear capital plan totals about $12.5 million, with roughly $8.5 million available counting carryovers and expected state and city allocations. He said “safety and health is number 1,” and identified projects that include theater rigging repairs at the high school, large energy‑management upgrades (with a likely large project at Valley Ridge), technology purchases (Chromebooks, Promethean boards, intercom systems) and preliminary planning for school restroom renovations. Freeman noted a possible larger West campus HVAC/heating project if the state provides additional supplemental allocations.

Courtney explained the district's conservative revenue projections and the requirement to adopt a balanced budget and file the full budget book with the Alabama State Department of Education by Sept. 15. She also reviewed fund‑by‑fund details: special revenue funds are largely restricted federal funds (IDEA and Child Nutrition Program), the debt service obligation is roughly $5 million annually (about $3.46 million funded from the general fund and the remainder from capital projects/state allocations), and the expendable trust fund holds school fundraising and activity accounts.

Board discussion acknowledged the heavy concentration of spending on personnel—about 69% of total personnel expenditures and roughly 80% of general fund dollars going to staff and benefits—and commended administrative work to restore a 2‑month reserve. Board members said local funds support programs and personnel (specials, advanced coursework, career and technical education and special education services) that the district values.

Votes at a glance - Approval: Agenda (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Minutes of the Aug. 1, 2025 meeting (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Financial statements and check register for July 2025 (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Consent items related to disposal of property and in‑state and out‑of‑state overnight field trips (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Revision to Board Policy 3.903 (expenditures) (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Revision to Board Policy 4.101 (data governance) (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Revision to Board Policy 5.1 (employee leave) (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Revision to Board Policy 5.111 (Family/parental leave language) (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Revisions to Board Policies 6.102 (admissions to schools) and 6.104 (absences and excuses) (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Revision to Board Policy 6.15b (student searches) (motion seconded and approved). - Approval: Personnel items, including teacher contracts under the statutory “teams” salary schedule for math and science secondary teachers (motion seconded and approved).

Discussion versus decisions - Discussion: The FY26 budget hearing presented detailed assumptions, staffing increases, revenue forecasts and the capital project list. Board members asked clarifying questions and commended the administration; no final budget adoption occurred at this meeting (this was the first of two public hearings). - Direction: The board was informed of the Sept. 8 second hearing and the Sept. 15 filing deadline with the Alabama State Department of Education. - Formal actions taken: the board approved the financial statements, consent items, multiple policy revisions and personnel actions as listed in the votes‑at‑a‑glance above.

The meeting adjourned after public‑comment time with a reminder about upcoming school activities that weekend.