Goochland County School Board approves superintendent's FY2027 needs-based budget

The Goochland County School Board voted unanimously to approve the superintendent's fiscal year 2027 needs-based budget after a presentation from Superintendent Dr. Armstrong and a brief board discussion.

Dr. Armstrong told the board the proposal reflects "a little over 6%" more than FY2026 and is grounded in personnel and program needs. "I want to be clear that we're continuing to move forward with our needs-based budget," he said, and he thanked finance staff, including Ms. Weiss and Stephanie Wyche, for reconciling numbers following a 9.1% health-insurance premium increase the division was recently notified of.

The budget request, Dr. Armstrong said, would fund targeted additions including elementary special-education seats, an interventionist (with some costs eligible for designated state funding), two additional CTE FTEs, full-time elementary encore teachers, a behavior specialist and other incremental positions. He estimated the cost of a 3% raise for all staff at about $1.1 million (including federal, state and local shares) and said the combined new investments total roughly $2.8 million after identified strategic reductions.

Dr. Armstrong also warned of potential new, unfunded costs from measures before the General Assembly. He singled out an air-quality-testing proposal that, according to materials he cited, "could be $20,000 per building annually" if enacted without funding, and urged continued attention to bills on collective bargaining, paid family medical leave and mental-health screening requirements.

Board members praised the needs-based approach and highlighted program successes the superintendent noted, including dual-enrollment progress and CTE gains. One board member pointed to the division's conservative ADM (average daily membership) projection while noting enrollment growth and the implications for class sizes and staffing needs.

Finance staff answered board questions about presentation materials and the county-transfer figure. The board requested that the transmittal letter and presentation clearly show the Goochland share of the larger total included in the packet to help the supervisors' finance team when the budget is transmitted.

A motion to approve the superintendent's FY2027 budget as presented was made, seconded and adopted by roll call. The record shows four ayes and one absence (Ms. Worsing); the board approved the package and will present it to the Board of Supervisors for further consideration. Dr. Armstrong said the division will meet with supervisors in a joint work session on March 17 and that the supervisors' adoption is expected in May.

The board adjourned and scheduled its next regular business meeting for Tuesday, March 10 (closed session 5:30 p.m.; open session 6 p.m.).