Chesapeake School Board adopts $855 million FY26/27 budget; McCormick votes no

The Chesapeake School Board voted 8-1 on March 2026 to adopt the Superintendent's Proposed FY26/27 Operating, Categorical, and Special Funds Budget, which the division presented at $855 million, an increase of $10.4 million (1.2%) over the current year. Dr. Smith announced the result: "Motion carries with a vote of 8 to 1 with Board member McCormick voting in opposition."

The budget package includes a local compensation adjustment that, together with state-provided increases, raises the starting teacher salary to $57,000 (the presentation also cited $57,413), funds nine new school-based positions and seven reclassifications, and plans for increased purchased services and health-care costs. Mrs. Glod, the division's chief financial officer, said health-care trends drove an $8.5 million projected increase and highlighted one-time investments for doors, AV upgrades, turf field replacements and secure vestibules at elementary schools.

Superintendent Dr. Cotton and Mrs. Glod framed the proposal against pending General Assembly action, noting House and Senate budget amendments that could affect local revenue projections. Mrs. Glod reviewed scenarios under each chamber's proposal and recommended the Board continue to use the governor's December proposal for planning until Richmond adopts a final budget.

Discussion before the vote centered on school resource deputies and the cost-sharing model. Mrs. Walker asked whether the sheriff's office would assume the elementary resource officer program and suggested soliciting bids from external security companies; Dr. Cotton replied, "Not at this time. Currently, we are fully funding that program," and said conversations with the City and Sheriff will continue. Board member John McCormick, the lone no vote, said he supported funding deputies but objected to other trade-offs; he said he would prioritize funding deputies if unanticipated funds become available.

The Board also approved, by unanimous vote, the appropriation of one-time funds to cover non-recurring capital and infrastructure projects including continued construction of secure vestibules at elementary schools, LED and AV upgrades, and a bus replacement leasing program. Chair Kim Scott emphasized vestibules remain a high priority after earlier emergency reallocations.

What happens next: the Board will present its adopted budget to the City on May 18 for reconciliation with the City Council and return for final adoption after Richmond's budget decisions are final.