Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Chester school board advances FY27 budget, unanimously adds one gifted-teacher position
Summary
The Chester Public School Board voted to advance the FY27 budget presentation and unanimously approved an amendment to add funding for one full‑time gifted teacher, while noting a projected shortfall requiring $1.8 million from the city to balance next year’s budget.
At its regular business meeting the Chester Public School Board approved the division’s FY27 budget plan and unanimously amended it to add funding for one full‑time gifted‑education teacher.
Superintendent Dr. Jason Manjigal told the board the division is tracking a near $600,000 loss in FY26 tied to a drop in average daily membership and has adjusted staffing and other spending in response. "In order to balance this budget, we need $1,800,000 from the city of Winchester," Manjigal said, explaining the division’s request to the city to close the gap. He also described a health‑insurance enhancement in the proposed plan that "costs money, dollars 420,000 I think to pull this off." The superintendent framed the budget request as an effort to remain competitive with neighboring jurisdictions on pay and benefits.
Board members questioned priorities inside the request and discussed whether to shift specific items from tier‑2 to tier‑1. Board member Rothermel moved to amend the budget to include funding for the addition of one gifted teacher in FY27; Miss Burrow seconded the motion. After discussion about needs and tradeoffs, the board approved the amendment unanimously.
The superintendent summarized other budget levers: reductions that yielded roughly $1.2 million in savings through position adjustments, and $4.2 million in required tier‑one increases for items including health insurance and pay adjustments. Manjigal emphasized comparisons with Frederick County and Loudoun County and warned that gaps in pay and benefits can drive turnover. "We need to keep neck and neck with Frederick County come hell or high water," he said.
Following budget action the board voted to adopt the FY27 salary scales so staff contracts can be issued in a timely way. The board then moved into closed session to discuss personnel matters.
The board’s next procedural step is to present the approved budget request to the city for appropriation; the board will return to adjust the division’s internal allocations once the city determines its funding for schools.
