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ACPS staff preview Scholar Studios expansion and FY27 budget drivers as per‑pupil costs rise
Summary
Budget staff outlined a $1.4 million Scholar Studios proposal (11 classroom teachers and operating costs) and showed FY27 draft per‑pupil estimates rising from about $20,000 to $22,000; compensation and health‑care cost increases were cited as the largest drivers, and the board debated whether to present a needs‑based funding request using the historic county formula or reduced county revenue estimates.
Albemarle County Public Schools budget staff presented the third budget work session on March 5, highlighting a Scholar Studios expansion proposal, an updated per‑pupil analysis and next steps on the FY27 funding request.
Maya Kumazawa, director of budget and planning, said the Scholar Studios funding proposal in the FY27 draft funding request is approximately $1.4 million and would add 11 new classroom teachers plus operating budgets for field experiences, industry credentialing and promotional activities. Presenters described Scholar Studios as career‑connected learning communities with gateway courses, a pathway sequence, a capstone and a pathway‑plus course designed to align core academics with work‑based learning.
Kumazawa also walked the board through a per‑pupil calculation that divides the school fund by the number of prek–12 students: using FY26 adopted budget figures produced a per‑pupil figure near $20,000, and after adding proposed changes (about $27.1 million in net changes) the draft FY27 request produces an illustrative per‑pupil figure of roughly $22,000.
She identified three dominant drivers of the per‑pupil increase since FY20: multi‑year compensation increases for teachers and classified staff, rising employer health‑care costs and new recurring proposals (added FTEs and program investments). "The largest bars are compensation, health care, and new proposals," Kumazawa said, summarizing slides staff provided to the board.
Board members probed implementation details for Scholar Studios staffing and hiring. Human resources staff said reductions in force (RIFF) are managed by school and that the division intends to prioritize internal reassignment where possible rather than external hires. Staff said early registration data show strong interest: staff reported approximately 25% of 9th graders and about 40% of current 8th graders had requested a Scholar Studio in early registration, but final enrollment figures will be refined in the coming weeks.
Jackson Zimmerman, school finance officer, previewed a second‑quarter financial report showing stronger than budgeted FY25 performance and a projected available fund balance. Zimmerman and staff recommended one‑time uses of savings (textbooks, classroom display and technology replacements, vehicles, instruments, and trailer/classroom repairs) and made board members aware of an audit adjustment related to multi‑year technology contracts.
A key governance discussion centered on the funding request staff will send to the board of supervisors. Board members debated whether to submit a needs‑based request using the historic county funding formula (their preferred approach to preserve negotiating position) or to adopt a request based on updated, lower county revenue projections that would require deeper cuts. Staff said the funding request approval would be on March 16; the board asked staff to add comparative charts showing the district's traditional allocation under the formula and the proposed deviation for outreach to supervisors.
Next steps: staff will provide enrollment and Scholar Studio registration updates, circulate the second‑quarter financial report on the consent agenda for the next meeting, and present the FY27 funding request for board approval on March 16. The board can still adjust the adopted budget before final adoption later in the cycle.
