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Loudoun County schools budget proposal tops $1 billion for first time Loudoun County schools budget proposal tops $1 billion for first time
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The superintendent of the fast-growing Loudoun County school system has proposed a budget that for the first time would top $1 billion, a marker of the rapid transformation of a once-rural school district that now serves more than 76,000 students. The superintendent of the fast-growing Loudoun County school system has proposed a budget that for the first time would top $1 billion, a marker of the rapid transformation of a once-rural school district that now serves more than 76,000 students.
Superintendent Eric Williams’s budget proposal for next school year calls for $86.7 million more than this year’s budget of $981 million — an 8.8 percent increase. If approved, it would expand the district’s offering of full-day kindergarten, direct more teachers to schools with large populations of at-risk students, and raise teacher salaries. Superintendent Eric Williams’s proposal for next school year calls for $86.7 million more than this year’s budget of $981 million — an 8.8 percent increase. If approved, it would expand the district’s offering of full-day kindergarten, direct more teachers to schools with large populations of at-risk students and increase teacher salaries.
“Students get one shot at their education to be empowered,” Williams said, after presenting his proposal to the school board last week. “It’s important that we get this right in terms of the amount of money and in terms of allocation of those resources.” “Students get one shot at their education to be empowered,” Williams said after presenting his proposal to the school board last week. “It’s important that we get this right in terms of the amount of money and in terms of allocation of those resources.”
The proposal could face resistance at the board of supervisors, which furnishes the largest chunk of the school budget. Williams is asking for $717 million from county taxpayers, about $58 million more than the county provided this year. The proposal could face resistance by the Board of Supervisors, which furnishes the largest chunk of the school budget. Williams is asking for $717 million from county taxpayers, which is about $58 million more than the county provided this year.
But county officials have signaled that the board could only provide between $15 million and $20 million more than last year, leaving a significant gap that might have to be made up through cuts. That gap could grow if the governor’s budget proposal, which would deliver $26 million more in state aid to Loudoun County schools, is slashed. But county officials have signaled that the board can provide only between $15 million and $20 million more than last year, leaving a significant gap that might have to be made up through cuts. That gap could grow if the governor’s budget proposal, which would deliver $26 million more in state aid to Loudoun schools, is slashed.
Williams was able to see his full request funded last year with the help of county surplus funds, which officials might be hesitant to revisit this year. But it marked a major shift for the county board, which had not fully funded the school board’s budget request in at least a decade. Williams was able to see his full request funded last year with the help of county surplus money, a situation officials might be hesitant to revisit this year. But it marked a major shift for the county board, which had not fully funded the school board’s budget request in at least a decade.
School Board member Tom Marshall (Leesburg) said the fact that last year’s budget relied on one-time surplus funds puts the school board “in a very precarious position to try to get our budget through.”School Board member Tom Marshall (Leesburg) said the fact that last year’s budget relied on one-time surplus funds puts the school board “in a very precarious position to try to get our budget through.”
“I’m hopeful, but skeptical,” Marshall said. “I’m hopeful but skeptical,” Marshall said.
[Loudoun supervisors poised to fully fund the county’s public schools] Williams’s proposal would allow the district to get about 75 percent of the county’s kindergartners in full-day classes by spending $9.5 million to hire additional teaching staff. The new classes would use available classroom space and not require additional construction.
Williams’ proposal would allow the district to get about 75 percent of the county’s kindergartners in full-day classes by spending $9.5 million to hire additional teaching staff. The new classes would use available classroom space and would not require any additional construction. The district is the only one in Northern Virginia that does not offer universal full-day kindergarten. About one-third of Loudoun kindergartners are in full-day classes this year, and all of the district’s at-risk students — including English language learners, special-education students and students who qualify for free- and reduced-price meals, a measure of poverty — receive full-day classes. Until the 2015-2016 school year, about 20 percent of kindergartners were in full-day classes, and the district did not have enough space to serve its at-risk population.
The district is the only one in Northern Virginia that does not offer universal full-day kindergarten. About one third of Loudoun kindergartners are in full-day classes this year, and all of the district’s at-risk students — including English language learners, special education students and students who qualify for free- and reduced-price meals — receive full-day classes. Up until the 2015-2016 school year, about 20 percent of kindergartners were in full-day classes and the district did not have enough space to serve its at-risk population.
[Why wealthy Loudoun County does not have universal full-day kindergarten][Why wealthy Loudoun County does not have universal full-day kindergarten]
Williams also wants to hire more special education teachers and to send additional teachers to schools that have seen surges in their population of English language learners and special education students. He said the high-performing district, which boasts above-average graduation rates and SAT scores, still needs to work on helping its neediest students. The population of at-risk students in the county has grown faster than the general population, with the number of students who qualify for free- and reduced-price meals, a measure of poverty, doubling since 2009. Williams also wants to hire more special-education teachers and send additional teachers to schools where there have been surges in the number of special-education students and English language learners. He said the high-performing district, which boasts above-average graduation rates and SAT scores, still needs to work on helping its neediest students. The population of at-risk students in the county has grown faster than the general population, with the number of students who qualify for free- and reduced-price meals doubling since 2009.
“It comes down to these opportunities for improved student achievement,” Williams said.“It comes down to these opportunities for improved student achievement,” Williams said.
Williams, like other area school superintendents, said he is concerned that the district is not offering competitive teacher salaries and worries about losing out on top talent, especially in the midst of a national teacher shortage. He wants to allocate $18.5 million to give teachers a salary step increase and wants to boost salaries for mid-career teachers to help with recruiting and retention. Williams, like other area school superintendents, said he is concerned that the district is not offering competitive teacher salaries and worries about losing out on top talent, especially in the midst of a national teacher shortage. He wants to allocate $18.5 million to give teachers a salary step increase and boost salaries for mid-career teachers to help with recruiting and retention.
That’s a concern that has been echoed by School Board members, who worry that Loudoun, where the average teacher salary of $65,581 puts it in the bottom tier of D.C. area school districts, will lose teachers to neighboring districts. That’s a concern that has been echoed by school board members, who worry that Loudoun, where the average teacher salary of $65,581 puts it in the bottom tier of D.C.-area school districts, will lose teachers to neighboring districts.
The superintendent’s proposal to raise teacher salaries “would make us more competitive,” said board chairman Eric Hornberger (Ashburn).The superintendent’s proposal to raise teacher salaries “would make us more competitive,” said board chairman Eric Hornberger (Ashburn).