SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. — The Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors and School Board met Tuesday to discuss the 2025 fiscal budget for the school system. The School Board approved a budget earlier this month, sending the proposal to fund the schools to the Board of Supervisors with a $46 million budget shortfall.
Last year, we saw a contentious battle play out in Spotsylvania County with the budget negotiations. The county made headlines after suggesting closing school libraries to help close a budget gap.
School Board Chairwoman Lorita Daniels told Supervisors during this week's session that she hopes this year the two boards can work through this challenging budget to do what's best for the students.
"We are delivering as best an education as we can for our kids. But honestly, it's sub-standard because we have not received the funds to be able to provide the number of teachers, staff and support," said School Board Vice Chair Nicole Cole.
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School leaders say there are a number of factors that play into how large the funding shortfall is, including an end to pandemic-era funding. Other leaders say if gaps had been filled in past years, the shortfall now would not be as big.
"It's been put on the backburner over and over and over and it's at crisis level. There is nowhere else to cut," said Carol Medawar at a February school board meeting discussing the budget.
Some Board of Supervisors members agreed with that sentiment at Tuesday's work session.
"This is an issue that's been a long time coming. You can't level fund and expect the problem to solve itself," said Battlefield District Supervisor Chris Yakabouski.
If the schools don't receive additional funding, some 350 existing and planned teacher jobs would be cut. There would also be a significant impact to health insurance, classroom size and special education, according to leaders.
School leaders also told the board Tuesday the amount of support from the county has dropped to a historic low and is 'unsustainable.' The initial budget from the county administrator only allocates giving schools 38 percent of tax revenue set to go to schools. That's compared to close to 50 percent in previous years.
"I hope we can continue to have your support because we need it. We're in this community together and we have to work together for the betterment of our children," said Daniels.
A public hearing for the budget is set for March 28.
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