Residents urge Waynesboro council to preserve 42.5% school funding formula; warn a 3% cap would be a cut

During council remarks and the citizen‑comment period on April 13, multiple residents urged the council to maintain the long-standing funding relationship with the Waynesboro Public School System and reject an idea described by several speakers as a 3% cap on school funding.

Mary McDermott, a Waynesboro resident, framed school investment as an economic imperative: "A quality school system is vital to the economic health of the city," she said, and criticized the idea of redirecting city funds away from schools while supporting private development. Former Waynesboro teacher Ashley Short told the council, "A cap is a cut," and warned that a cap would force cuts to positions that support special education, arts and extracurricular programs. Student Myella Hilker and other parents described how extracurriculars and teachers' retention rely on school funding.

Speakers also pointed to academic gaps in Waynesboro compared with state averages (reading, writing, math, and science), arguing that reducing school funding would harm long-term workforce and community development. Council members responded that they value public education, reiterated a desire to work with the school board, and invited constituents to a joint session later in the month to continue deliberations.

What happens next: Council said it will continue discussions with the school board, hold a joint session at the end of the month, and consider public input before any permanent change to the school funding formula.