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Manassas Park schools present $64.9M FY2026 plan, request $872K from reserves to close shortfall
Summary
Superintendent presented the school board‑approved FY2026 budget — roughly $64.9 million across six funds — highlighting state‑driven increases in English‑learner staffing (43 ELL positions), expanded student supports, paid parental leave and a $872,078 proposed draw from school reserves to balance the general operating fund.
Superintendent Dr. Sanders presented the Manassas Park City Schools’ FY2026 budget to the City Council, describing a six‑fund package totaling about $64,874,855 and asking the governing body to approve a partial reserve draw of $872,078 to balance the general operating fund.
The superintendent said the budget advances four priorities: improving literacy and mathematics, investing in compensation and benefits, strengthening student support and promoting sustainability and long‑term planning. The presentation noted that the Virginia Literacy Act expansion requires extending literacy supports into middle school and that the division must add 43 English‑language‑learner (ELL) teaching positions to comply with new state ratios.
The proposal contains a mix of local, state and federal revenue; presenters said roughly 66% of school revenue comes from the Commonwealth, about 26% from the city and approximately 6% from federal sources. Staff described a projected gap that results from level federal grant assumptions and rising personnel costs; they proposed using $872,078 from the district’s stabilization/reserve line to cover the shortfall and keep the general operating fund balanced.
Budget highlights include continued universal free breakfast and lunch, the addition of an elementary counselor at each campus (raising each building to three counselors), a dean of students at the high school to oversee intervention and prevention work, front‑office support positions at the middle and high schools, and a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment plus step increases for salary scales. The package also includes benefits changes: a six‑week paid maternity/paternity leave after one year of service and conversion of existing sick/personal leave into a paid‑time‑off bank, with 15 PTO days effective July 1.
Council members pressed staff on two recurring themes: why projected per‑pupil costs jump in FY2026 and how the district will staff 43 ELL positions amid regional hiring challenges. Staff responded that the per‑pupil increase is driven by higher per‑pupil revenue combined with a declining average daily membership (ADM), which raises the per‑pupil ratio; they also said the state provides a portion of ELL funding but local districts must cover roughly 30% of the added cost. Presenters acknowledged current recruitment challenges and estimated about seven to eight immediate ELL vacancies; they said the division is exploring creative staffing approaches while continuing active recruitment.
The superintendent and budget staff said the FY26 request was crafted using a needs‑based, zero‑based budgeting framework and included a five‑year forecast that assumes step‑and‑COLA adjustments in alternating years. Staff told council that should federal or state funding levels change, the division would return with a budget amendment.
The council did not take a final appropriation vote on the schools’ budget in this meeting; the presentation was followed by questions and a request for additional detail on grants, reserve balances and vacancy rates.
The superintendent turned the presentation over to the council and invited follow‑up, noting the school board’s prior steps (superintendent proposal, public hearing and school board adoption) and that staff would supply further detail for the council’s review.
