Dr. Daniel presents proposed 2025–26 Matthews County operating budget with 4% raise and new positions

Dr. Daniel presented the Matthews County Public Schools proposed 2025–26 operating budget at the Feb. 6 public hearing, saying the draft is based on a projected enrollment of 725 students and would raise the division's operating ask to about $18 million.

The proposal, Dr. Daniel said, "includes an increase of a 4% and a step in the salary scale," meaning each employee would move one step and the salary scale would be increased by 4% to absorb anticipated compensation and benefit costs. He told the board the draft also accounts for health insurance uncertainty: "we're budgeting 8% but it could end up being around 10 to 12," and said staff will update figures once final insurer rates are available.

Why it matters: the budget frames staffing and services for next school year. Dr. Daniel said the division is planning staffing decisions around continuing enrollment declines (the current budget assumed 760 students) and that choices about class sizes and which licensed support positions to retain will shape classroom supports for math, literacy and other curricula changes.

Key additions and costs in the draft include a second reading specialist tied to the Virginia Literacy Act expansion, the addition of a teacher athletic trainer for Matthews High School, an extra CTE teacher (subject to hiring availability), an additional custodial/grounds position and another teacher assistant. Dr. Daniel also said the budget includes a $20,000 increase for CTE consumables and modest increases for travel, conferences and school-based materials.

On aggregate, Dr. Daniel said the list of proposed additions totals just under $1.2 million. After accounting for a planned memorandum of understanding with the county that would move many maintenance-related costs to the county's budget, he said the net impact to the school operating budget would be roughly $834,000, producing an overall operating ask increase of about $283,000 compared with the current plan.

Dr. Daniel flagged several line-item details: the social worker position is being moved from a 10-month to an 11-month contract, which affects the benefits cost; total health insurance costs for the division are "about a million dollar a year," and an 8% placeholder increase in insurance premiums was used in the draft while final rates remain pending. He also described which maintenance contracts would remain with the division (fire and security systems and related contracts) even if other maintenance functions transfer to the county under the MOU.

The superintendent noted late-afternoon budget proposals from the Virginia General Assembly showed differing effects on the division's funding, with about a $200,000 spread between the House and Senate versions; staff will analyze the legislative spreadsheets to determine the actual impact on division revenues. Dr. Daniel emphasized that various funding scenarios and enrollment trends will inform whether the board maintains positions when vacancies occur or reassigns duties to preserve instructional quality.

Board members were offered a chance to ask questions but elected to hold substantive remarks for the work session later in the meeting. The hearing moved to the public-comment portion; no members of the public had signed up to speak. The chair thanked Dr. Daniel for the presentation and adjourned the meeting.

What remains: staff will refine insurance estimates when carriers finalize rates, complete analysis of the General Assembly budget impacts and revisit staffing decisions through the spring and into the summer as enrollment and vacancy data evolve.