School board unveils $1.89 billion operating request; seeks historic pay increases and presses state on funding shortfall

Prince William County Public Schools presented the school board’s advertised FY2026 budget to the Board of County Supervisors on April 1, requesting approximately $1.89 billion in operating and debt service funds and laying out priorities including a historic two‑year compensation package, targeted investments for English learners and students with disabilities, and sustained capital funding.

Key figures and priorities. The total general‑fund and debt‑service request for FY2026 is about $1.89 billion, with the total across all funds at roughly $2.4 billion when construction funds are included. The school board and superintendent highlighted a proposed multi‑year teacher compensation agreement that would average a 7% raise in year one and 6.4% in year two, plus adjustments to the certified pay scale and supplements to bring entry and mid‑career pay more in line with regional peers. The FY2026 budget would direct tens of millions to learning and achievement initiatives (about $36 million cited), student support and school safety (including deans of students for middle and high schools), and organizational coherence (recruitment, retention, and operational priorities).

Compensation and personnel. School leaders emphasized that the compensation package is intended to retain and recruit teachers and other staff, noting Prince William is still behind many neighboring divisions on per‑pupil spending but that recent increases have substantially closed the gap. The budget also funds additional special‑education and mental‑health staff, including five new school psychologists and expanded therapeutic/behavioral supports.

Capital and facilities. The advertised CIP requests return capital funding to more typical levels after a one‑time reprogramming last year; the division requested substantial investments in deferred maintenance and facility projects across districts, including new school construction where enrollment pressures remain. The school division is also requesting proffered and dedicated funds for specific projects and included a $25 million request for proffered capital funding in the CIP.

Outstanding fiscal uncertainties. Superintendent Latanya McDade and CFO Shaquille Youssef warned of two major unknowns: (1) the state budget and formula changes (the local composite index and the next biennium will affect state/local contributions) and (2) potential cuts to federal funding lines that support head start, nutrition and certain student services. The division receives large pass‑through federal grants; staff said contingency plans would require using reserves or reprioritizing if federal funding is reduced. The school board also reiterated a legislative ask to restore “excess fees” returns that have been reduced by successive governors’ budget amendments; the clerk’s office had urged the board to support restoring the full two‑thirds share of excess fees that the code otherwise specifies.

Board context and next steps. School officials said the FY2026 ask is grounded in the division’s Launching Thriving Futures strategic plan and targeted to the county’s most urgent needs: on‑time graduation (target 95%), reductions in chronic absenteeism and support for English learners and special‑needs students. The board and county staff will continue budget meetings and markups in coming weeks. School leaders said they would provide additional detail on reserves and contingency scenarios to supervisors on request.

Ending. The school budget presentation sets the stage for the county’s budget review and markups. Supervisors repeatedly asked for clarity on contingency plans and reserve levels given federal and state budget uncertainty, and school officials agreed to return with more detailed reserve and scenario analysis.