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Newport News Board adopts amended FY25 budget, raises teacher starting pay to $55,100
Summary
The school board adopted an amended FY25 operating budget totaling $435,485,865 that reflects updated enrollment and technical state funding increases; the package funds teacher raises (to 5%), additional support-staff increases, and a higher teacher starting salary.
The Newport News School Board on June 18 approved an amended fiscal year 2025 operating budget that raises teacher pay and increases the district's total adopted funds to $435,485,865.
Finance staff said the budget adjustment used final March ADM (24,805) and technical updates to state direct-aid funding to secure an additional $13.3 million in state revenue. Combined with unchanged city contributions and stable federal/other revenue, staff presented a package that adds approximately $18.5 million in new funding to the division's spending plan.
Under the proposal presented by Scarlett Mento, the plan recommends a 5% teacher raise (up from the 2% governor recommendation) and a 3% increase for support staff, along with experience adjustments and a raised teacher starting salary from $53,000 to $55,100. If approved, the changes were scheduled to take effect July 1; the board adopted the amended budget by roll call, 7–0.
Mento told the board the district's previously approved FY25 budget was based on an enrollment snapshot of 25,290 but that March ADM provided the official enrollment figure used to calculate state funding. She explained the bulk of the funding change came from combining at-risk prevention/intervention programs and other technical updates to direct-aid formulas.
Board members asked clarifying questions about the reduction of teaching positions referenced in the package; staff said those are unfilled positions from prior planning and no current teacher positions were at risk. Members also discussed teacher raise history and the district's efforts to address salary compression. The superintendent and several board members praised city-council support for increased local funding.
The board recorded the motion to approve the amended FY25 operating budget (total $435,485,865) and directed finance and human-resources staff to implement salary adjustments and notify employees as scheduled.
