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Rockingham schools present draft $198 million requests; food service faces $615,000 shortfall
Summary
Division staff presented a first draft of 2025-26 expenditure requests totaling about $198.5 million if fully funded; presenters said Food Service cannot break even under current reimbursements and proposed a $615,000 transfer from the operating fund while scheduling follow-ups to refine revenue assumptions.
Rockingham County Public Schools staff presented a first draft of expenditure requests for 2025-26 that would total about $198,491,000 if every request were funded, and flagged a projected shortfall in the Food Service fund that staff proposed covering with a $615,000 transfer from the operating fund.
Justin Moyers, who presented the request summary, told the board the packet lists all division personnel and program requests and is intended to start budget conversations. Key items highlighted included a $727,000 increase in transportation costs (fuel, supplies and bus maintenance), a new Food Service line (projected not to break even), and about $7.4 million in division proposals, including hiring elementary math teachers and special-education adaptive positions.
Moyers said meal production costs are roughly $3.85 per meal while the charged price at some schools is $2. He explained that federal reimbursements were higher during COVID and that 14 schools in the district are designated under the Community Eligibility Provision, meaning many meals are reimbursed at blended rates that do not cover current production costs. "We are losing probably over $3 a meal," Moyers said.
Board members asked questions about how meal prices are set and whether alternative revenue or expenditure cuts exist; staff said cutting expenditures further is not feasible and that the suggested $615,000 transfer is a stopgap. Moyers and the superintendent said they will present the governor's budget proposal to the board at the next meeting and organize two-by-two meetings with board members to review requests in detail.
Moyers also noted a proposed 3% salary increase aligned with the governor's budget and several personnel requests totaling over $5 million, largely for special education and English-learner positions. Board members expressed interest in prioritizing the list and scheduled follow-up budget discussions.
No final budget vote occurred; the presentation was informational and will inform upcoming budget work sessions.
