Teacher tells Waynesboro School Board proposed 42.5% cap would cut school funding

Catherine Brown, a second-grade teacher at Winona Elementary School and president of the Williamsboro Education Association, urged the Waynesboro School Board to oppose a city council proposal that she said would cut local school funding.

"City council has proposed only providing WPS with 42 and a half percent of their discretionary revenue," Brown said, adding that the change, presented as a cap, "truly it reduces the amount of money given to the schools in all but bad years, so it will be a cut to funding." She said reductions would likely force cuts to specialists and programs that support vulnerable learners and make it harder to attract and retain qualified teachers.

Brown told the board that funding levels directly affect student outcomes and that smaller class sizes and access to specialists are particularly important for students reading below grade level, English learners and students with disabilities. She also said program cuts could reduce post‑graduation opportunities and weaken the city's ability to attract residents and employers.

Board members acknowledged Brown's comments and the superintendent and staff have prepared three counterproposal options to carry to discussions with city council. The options, discussed later in the meeting, include an "inflation plus 3%" cap, a five‑year rolling average model and a revenue-and-enrollment responsive hybrid (the board's staff presentation provides details). The board and staff said they will provide plain-language talking points and take the proposals to upcoming 2x2 meetings with city council.

The public comment occurred near the start of the board's meeting; no formal board action on the city proposal was taken at this session.