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Hampton superintendent outlines FY19 school budget with 2% pay increase, $350,000 for academies
Summary
Superintendent Jeffrey Smith told council the proposed FY19 operating budget includes a 2% compensation increase for most employees, a 3.2% health-insurance increase to be shared with employees, $350,000 for the Academies of Hampton, and a $705,626 increase in local contribution; the budget is balanced on the governor's proposed plan but remains subject to state action.
Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Smith presented the Hampton City Schools proposed FY19 operating budget and highlighted staffing and program investments tied to student outcomes.
"The proposed budget includes a 2% compensation increase for all full and part time employees," Smith said, and he told council the plan also reflects a 3.2% increase in health insurance premiums that would be shared between the school division and employees. Smith said local contribution through the funding formula increased by $705,626 and that the division currently shows a balanced budget based on the governor's proposed state budget.
Smith also described a $350,000 allocation in the proposal "in support of the academies of Hampton to primarily purchase equipment," and emphasized that the budget reflects organizational rightsizing tied to a projected enrollment decline. He cautioned that the General Assembly will continue budget deliberations and the division will work to mitigate any state changes before the school board's final adoption.
The superintendent framed the spending choices around instructional priorities, curriculum rewriting and digital resources that he said will reduce some textbook purchases over time. Council members followed with questions about recruitment, summer learning and how digital learning savings will appear in the operating budget.
Next steps: the school board planned a public hearing and scheduled action on the budget at its evening meeting, and city staff will present the adopted school figures as part of the city's budget documents.
