Virginia Beach City Public Schools seeks pay increases, health-fund contributions and advances Princess Anne High School design-build process
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Summary
VBCPS presented a $33.9M additional revenue plan that includes an average 5.23% teacher pay increase, $11.1M for unified staff raises, $14.6M to bolster the health fund and a CIP that includes a planned $330M Princess Anne High School replacement under progressive design-build.
Representatives from Virginia Beach City Public Schools presented the division's proposed operating and capital budgets to council. The superintendent's estimate projects approximately $33.9 million in additional revenue, divided roughly 55% from the state, 37% from the city and small local and federal contributions.
The school proposal includes compensation increases intended to be competitive with the market: an average 5.23% increase for certified teacher pay scales (2% plus a $1,000 entry increase flowing through the scale) and an average 4.17% increase for unified staff, at an estimated cost of $22.6M and $11.1M respectively. The schools also proposed approximately $14.6M in health-fund contributions, partly to cover projected employer contribution increases for plan year 2027.
On capital projects, VBCPS highlighted two priority projects: a Princess Anne High School replacement (CIP-1015) estimated at a 2028 GMP of $330,000,000 under a progressive design-build procurement, and tri-campus additions (Diamond Springs and Newtown elementary schools) planned to open in August 2028. VBCPS said the progressive design-build RFP will ask shortlisted teams for both replacement and renovation schematics and cost analyses to 20% design so the board can assess the most efficient path.
Council members repeatedly expressed concern about the Princess Anne estimate and asked how renovation costs would be compared with replacement; VBCPS responded that cost analyses at 20% design and value-engineering through the progressive design-build process may reduce the estimate and that staff will seek grant opportunities and other efficiencies. VBCPS also noted an anticipated $2M decrease in Title I funding linked to a decline in economically disadvantaged student counts.
No final appropriations were decided at this session; VBCPS and council agreed to continue refinement through reconciliation and further briefings.
