Augusta County School Board approves revised FY25–26 budgets and directs staff to balance under conservative 'Option D'

At a March 19 special meeting, the Augusta County School Board approved revised FY25–26 operating and other fund budgets and voted unanimously to adopt “Option D,” a conservative budget that includes a 2% salary increase and directs the superintendent and finance staff to balance the budget before presentation to the Board of Supervisors.

The board first voted to allow Dr. Ocletree to join the meeting remotely; that motion carried 5–0. The board then approved the revised FY25–26 operating budget and later approved the revised and proposed other-fund budgets, each by voice vote (both motions carried 6–0).

Why it matters: Board members said they remain committed to a 3% employee salary increase as the top priority but concluded that, because of revenue pressures — including a decline in average daily membership and a change in the locality funding index that staff said reduced state revenue by about $1.9 million — the board should present a balanced budget. The Option D package presented to the board reduces the salary increase to 2% and limits personnel additions to the board’s priority requests; staff estimated the Option D gap at roughly $160,000.

Board discussion and direction Chair (name not specified in the transcript) framed the trade-offs the board faced and said the conservative route was necessary to present a balanced budget to the Board of Supervisors. "I think that's our best best route to make it work and hope for the best," the Chair said, urging staff to continue pursuing a 3% raise if additional funds become available.

Several board members echoed that preference. "I'd like to stress prioritizing that 3% salary increase if we can," said a board member who also urged conservatism in the face of uncertain state revenue. Other members described Option D as the "most realistic" path that preserves the division’s ability to restore priorities should extra funds arrive.

Budget details presented Finance staff (identified in the transcript as Ms. Meyerhoffer; transcript contains variant spellings) reviewed the revised operating budget and the other-fund budgets. Highlights from the presentation included:

- Instruction: approximately $115,000,000 in the operating budget. - Transportation: about $9,000,000; maintenance: about $13,000,000; technology: about $5,900,000. - The revised operating budget reflected an increase of roughly $1.9 million (about 1.3% over prior figures), and staff said they had cut nearly $7,000,000 in requests to reach the proposed package. - Other funds: the School Nutrition Program (Fund 43) had FY26 revised revenues near $6.8 million and proposed FY27 revenues around $7.3 million; the Head Start fund (Fund 47) showed a modest increase of about $50,000 from FY26 to FY27; the Capital Improvement Fund (Fund 44) includes bus purchases, security outlays and facility work including final expenditures for Buffalo Gap Middle School and Riverheads Middle School.

Votes at a glance - Allow remote participation by Dr. Ocletree: approved (voice) 5–0. - Approve revised FY25–26 operating budget: approved (voice) 6–0. - Approve revised FY25–26 and proposed FY26–27 other fund budgets: approved (voice) 6–0. - Adopt Option D and direct superintendent and finance staff to balance the budget (present balanced packet to Board of Supervisors on March 30): approved (voice) 6–0. - Motion to convene closed session to discuss personnel and student privacy matters under Virginia Code § 2.2‑3711(A)(1) and (A)(2): approved by voice vote.

What the board directed next The board directed the superintendent and the finance department to identify roughly $160,000 in adjustments needed to balance the Option D budget and to prepare a clear priorities list showing which items would be restored if additional state or local funds become available. The board plans to present the balanced budget to the Board of Supervisors on March 30.

Other items and remarks Board members thanked staff for extensive work on the budget; several referenced listening sessions and tours conducted by district leadership. Dr. Griffin raised concerns from parents about the amount of computer use in elementary grades, a point the board said it would consider in future discussions. Chair also noted community reaction to the introduction of Fort Defiance’s new principal, Fonda Morris.

The meeting moved to a closed session on personnel and student-privacy grounds under Virginia statute; that motion was approved by voice vote.

(Reporting based on the Augusta County School Board’s March 19 special meeting transcript.)