Fairfax County School Board Adopts FY 2023 Budget Focused on Safety, Student Success, and Staff Compensation
For the fourth year in a row, Fairfax County leaders have shown a commitment to public education by supporting a budget that funds Fairfax County Public Schools’ key initiatives of student success and a premier workforce.
The County transfer increase of $102.6m, for a total of $2,275.3b, will support investments that show our employees they are the critical piece in helping our students thrive. Eighty-six percent of the $3.3 billion budget will go directly to instruction.
Attracting and retaining the best instructional and support staff, including bus drivers, remains critical to student success. The budget includes a 4% Market Scale Adjustment (MSA) for all employees, along with a step increase for eligible employees, a salary scale extension to all scales, and market improvements to our bus driver and family liaison salary scales. A small adjustment in the budget will support a County initiative to provide affordable housing so that teachers and staff can live where they work.
“This budget means we can provide our employees the kind of compensation they need – not just to survive, but to thrive in the current economy,” says Superintendent Scott Brabrand. “We continue to get tremendous support from the County Board of Supervisors and County Executive Bryan Hill for our unique needs and to allow us to fully realize all of our key priorities.”
Additional system wide professional development on new curriculum and skills development, and planning time for elementary schools will allow school based staff to spend time reviewing formative and summative assessments to prepare for targeted instruction and provide students with more timely feedback, preparing and organizing materials for differentiated instruction, and communicating with families.
In line with its key priorities, the budget includes funding for multiple initiatives that support students in critical areas of need, including a lead special education teacher at all elementary schools, an increase in school-based family liaisons, investments in staff recruitment and retention and additional supports for student mental health, wellness, and safety. The budget maintains school counselor positions that would have otherwise been reduced due to a decrease in student enrollment. The School Board also directed the Superintendent to conduct a holistic review of safety and security protocols and procedures in all FCPS buildings, as well as prioritizing completion of the security vestibule program.
FCPS and Fairfax County Joint Environmental Task Force initiatives are represented in the budget with funding to support carbon neutrality, electric buses, Safe Routes to Schools, the Get2Green program, and other sustainability programs.
“This robust post-pandemic budget, which focuses on staff compensation and strengthening student academic supports, represents hope for our FCPS community,” says Stella Pekarsky, School Board Chair and Sully District Representative. “We are grateful for the continued close collaboration with the County Board of Supervisors for their support in keeping our schools safe, effective, and welcoming places for students to learn.”
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