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Teachers, school board members and residents urge Fauquier supervisors to fully fund FCPS FY27 request
Summary
Multiple teachers, school board members and residents told the Board of Supervisors they support the school board's FY27 budget request to address teacher pay, bus replacement and health fund needs, and asked supervisors to avoid cuts the school board proposed for necessary services.
Erin McCarty, a teacher at Claude Thompson Elementary School, told supervisors she and her husband live in the Marshall District and said teachers need support to stay. "We are just looking for a reason to stay," McCarty said, asking the board to fully fund the school board's budget request.
Susan Pauling, a member of the County's school board, outlined recent county contributions to schools and said the division's priorities this year include compensation, buses, infrastructure and the health fund. Pauling said prior outside audits identified no misuse of funds and asked supervisors to back the board's FY27 request so schools can address staffing and maintenance needs.
Katie Lang, who identified herself as an FCPS teacher, said most of the school division's budget increase comes from state and federal allocations but that the county's contribution is needed to cover parity in health contributions, additional buses and capital maintenance. "This year, school leadership found a way to address a long standing challenge ... the school division is asking the county to cover is narrow and essential," Lang said.
Speakers repeated concerns that low starting wages and lost staff have harmed schools; several asked the board to consider long-term efforts to broaden the tax base rather than repeatedly requiring residents to shoulder recurring shortfalls. The board did not take action during the hearing; final budget decisions are scheduled for March 31.
