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Superintendent: staff survey ranks pay, staffing and facilities as top budget priorities; enrollment and LCI complicate choices
Summary
Dr. Daniel told the Mathews County School Board that a staff survey (56 responses) ranked salary increases first, staffing second and facilities third; he also reported enrollment declines, an LCI of about 0.5904, and noted budget pressures from reduced state revenue and health-insurance uncertainty.
Dr. Daniel, superintendent of the Mathews County School Division, presented staff survey highlights and a budget overview at the Dec. 17 budget work session, saying 53.6% of respondents listed salary increases as the top priority for FY2025–26 and 28.6% selected additional staffing. “The overwhelming at about just under 54% was salary increase going into this next budget cycle,” he said.
Daniel told the board the division is operating on roughly 760 K–12 students now, noting a long-term decline in enrollment (about a 50% reduction over 21 years) and that administration will plan the next budget on a conservative projection of roughly 725–730 students. He said state revenue has declined—about $800,000 from FY23 to the current year—and that county contributions have helped offset shortfalls. “A 5% increase for current staff is about $576,000,” he said when asked for a cost placeholder.
The superintendent outlined staffing pressures: about 20 fewer full-time and part-time employees this year versus last and several vacant positions, including multiple teaching-assistant jobs and a recently vacated contracted athletic trainer. He flagged a possible need for a middle-school reading specialist as the Virginia Literacy Act expands into middle school grades and said Title I funding constraints limit where reading specialists can be deployed.
On capital and operations, Daniel reviewed facilities issues (boiler and HVAC problems at elementary schools), capital-improvement requests (bathroom renovations, kitchen equipment, flooring), technology and contract risks (Canvas state contract ending), and the county’s investment-grade audit process intended to identify energy and equipment upgrades. He noted several unknowns that affect budget planning, including the governor’s upcoming tentative budget and pending health insurance rate outcomes.
Board members asked for comparative TA pay data from nearby counties, for more concrete survey numbers and for proposals on step-size alternatives (1% vs. 1.25% steps); Dr. Daniel said administration will return with more detailed figures and recommendations to guide the January drafting of the FY2025–26 budget.
Next steps: administration will post the slide deck to Board Docs, run detailed compensation scenarios and provide proposed salary/staffing options for the board to consider during the next budget work session.
