School Board Adopts Advertised Budget Focused on COVID Recovery
The Fairfax County School Board has unanimously adopted its FY 2022 Advertised Budget that places student health, well-being, and learning at its core, while remaining fiscally responsible during this uncertain economic climate.
The FY22 Advertised Budget prioritizes and funds resources that support our students’ academic and social-emotional needs. The $3.2 billion budget also recognizes the sacrifices and commitment of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) teachers and staff with a proposed 3 percent compensation rate for all employees.
“We recognize that the past year has been incredibly difficult for our community. This budget is designed to bring hope to students, their families and our staff by providing the resources each of them needs to help recognize and support all their extraordinary contributions during this pandemic,” said Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand.
The FY22 Advertised Budget, approved by the School Board and the superintendent, represents an increase of $75.5 million, or 2.41 percent, over the FY 2021 Approved Budget. During its business meeting on February 18, the School Board approved several amendments to the budget, including the addition of a compensation increase for all staff.
The budget includes a request for an additional $104.4 million, or 4.9 percent, in the county transfer to provide a 3 percent compensation increase to all employees, continue funding expanded preschool special education classes; addressing retirement rate increases and rising health care costs; expanding and supporting the district’s response to meet student needs arising from the pandemic; and offsetting decreasing revenue from state, federal, and other sources.
Additionally, to meet the prescribed changes to the Standards of Quality by the Virginia Board of Education, the budget includes $4.9 million and 50 positions for staffing adjustments at the elementary level for the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program.
In response to an update in the Code of Virginia that authorizes collective bargaining for public employees, the budget includes $0.5 million and three positions for a collective bargaining team to support the new requirements and activities.
The proposed budget includes $3.0 million for the third and final year of the three-year implementation plan to bring salaries of instructional assistants and public health training assistants to 50 percent of the bachelor's degree teacher salary scale.
“This is a responsible budget that takes into account the tough economic climate brought on by the pandemic, while also recognizing that a high-quality school system serves as the economic underpinning of a thriving community. It is a budget that will continue to build on FCPS’ tradition of excellence,” said School Board Chair and Mason District Representative Ricardy Anderson.
The School Board is scheduled to present its Advertised Budget to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 13. Additional budget work sessions and public hearings will occur through May. Information about speaking at a budget public hearing and a list of relevant budget dates, along with updates and budget news, is available online.
The FCPS FY22 budget begins July 1, 2021.
###
For more information, contact the FCPS Office of Budget Services at 571-423-3600.
