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Colonial Heights school board approves 2026–27 budget with 4% pay increase for staff
Summary
The Colonial Heights City School Board approved the superintendent’s 2026–27 budget March 24, including a across‑the‑board 4% pay increase and a health‑insurance renewal that the presenter said averaged a 5.9% increase, with employee contributions rising 2–10% depending on plan.
The Colonial Heights City School Board approved the superintendent’s proposed 2026–27 budget at its March 24 meeting, moving a planned 3% staff increase to a 4% adjustment for all employees. The presenter said the additional 1% increase will cost about $380,000 and that the board continues to prioritize mental‑health supports, hiring to reduce student‑teacher ratios and transparent allocation of funds.
Why it matters: The budget sets division staffing and benefits for the coming school year and will be forwarded to the City for consideration the next day. The pay change and benefit decisions will affect all district employees and the school division’s operating costs.
Details from the presentation: The presenter described the process that produced the package — a January superintendent proposal followed by work sessions with board members and staff to refine requests and align with state funding projections. Key highlights the presenter called out were the 4% compensation increase for staff and steps to address mental‑health needs and maintain academic supports. The presenter said the additional 1% increase beyond the earlier 3% plan carries an estimated cost of $380,000 and that step increases plus the 4% adjustment combine to produce the stated overall increase.
On benefits, presenters described a lengthy review of health insurance renewal proposals: an initial renewal estimate of roughly 8.7% was, after negotiation and multiple meetings with consultants, presented as a 5.9% overall renewal. The presenter said employee plan contributions will increase by plan, “somewhere between 2 percent and 10 percent” depending on the option selected.
Board action and next steps: A motion was made and the board approved the budget by roll/voice confirmation. According to the presenter, the approved budget will be forwarded to the City the following morning for the municipal review/processing step.
What was not specified: The transcript does not provide a named mover or a detailed roll‑call tally for the budget vote; it records affirmative responses from board members but does not present a formal recorded count. The presenter also noted that final state funding numbers were still pending and that some figures in the adopted budget reflect available projections rather than final state allocations.
