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Roanoke board approves $272.2 million 2025–26 budget and federal grant applications
Summary
The board approved the 2025–26 budget (about $272.2 million general fund), a capital fund reappropriation aligning with City Council, and authorized federal entitlement grant applications (Title I, II-A, III-A, IV-A). The budget includes a 2.5% average raise and 71 new positions largely to meet SOQ requirements.
The Roanoke City School Board voted on June 10 to approve the division’s 2025–26 budget, a capital fund amendment and the district’s federal entitlement grant applications.
Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Jackson presented the budget highlights: an approximately $272.2 million general fund, a projected 2.4% increase in state revenues, estimated 2% increase in grant funding, and a proposed 2.5% average combined scale-and-step raise for employees. Jackson said the budget adds roughly 71 new positions, most of them to meet the revised Standards of Quality (SOQ) requirements for supporting English learners and students with disabilities.
Jackson explained a required capital fund amendment to align the division’s capital appropriations with a City Council reappropriation approved May 19 (the agenda item referenced just over $17.8 million). The board approved that amendment by voice vote.
The board also authorized submission of Title I, II-A, III-A and IV-A entitlement grant applications. Jackson noted federal allocations used in the applications reflected 2024–25 allocation levels (the usual placeholder), with final award amounts to be confirmed later in the summer.
Board members thanked Jackson’s finance team for extensive work on a tight budget year; trustees described this budget as among the most difficult in recent memory but praised transparency and alignment to the division’s strategic plan. Several members emphasized the decision to maintain current employee benefits and to protect staffing where possible.
What happens next: the budget will take effect with the new fiscal year starting July 1; the division will continue to monitor grant award notices and may return to the board if reappropriations or adjustments are required.
