Suffolk school board approves $257.1 million FY 2026–27 budget after debate over pay and facilities

The Suffolk School Board voted to approve Resolution 25/26‑24A, adopting a $257,120,235 budget for fiscal year 2026–27 that includes $95,191,901 in local funding from the City of Suffolk. The motion passed 6–1.

The vote followed extended debate over priorities in the budget and how to address staffing and facilities needs. Board member Brittingham said the plan “does not go far enough to address the needs of the five elementary schools identified as off track,” and pressed for targeted investments in licensed special‑education teachers, aides and paraprofessionals. She said, “Until we fund it and treat it in that way, we should not expect different results.”

Board member Slinglove proposed asking the city for an additional $1,540,000 to raise staff pay to 3% to better match cost‑of‑living increases; Slinglove said the sum would be used to make a uniform raise and listed a $7,000,000 “critical needs” facilities package — roofs, rooftop HVAC, chiller replacements, tennis courts and parking/lighting work — that the board wanted the city to consider. "We have critical needs as a school district. Not wants, needs," Slinglove said.

Superintendent Dr. Gordon explained the budget assumptions and the division’s approach to tradeoffs, noting state funding remains uncertain. He said the 2% staff raise included in the proposal takes into account health‑care and fringe costs that affect take‑home pay and noted early projections from the General Assembly could change the picture. "Any amount that we get, we always have to ask our locality to make up for," Dr. Gordon said, adding the district has historically separated wants from needs and will continue to press the city for critical items.

Board members also discussed operational impacts, including the vacancy in the finance office and how staffing decisions affect implementation of board priorities. Board member Riddick raised procedural concerns about how the board will satisfy the resolution’s stated intent without a permanent chief financial officer; the chair declined to discuss personnel matters in public, calling them appropriate for closed session.

The board’s approval preserves the superintendent’s request for school‑level investments and the ability for the finance team to make final adjustments before the city manager incorporates the schools’ budget into the city’s budget calendar. The division will submit the budget book to the city and continue outreach to city leaders to seek additional funding for the critical‑needs list and staff compensation.

The budget motion was carried after board members debated amendments and questioned staff about assumptions. The board also agreed to continue conversations with the city and to try to secure additional funding before final adoption steps later this spring.