Board hears budget update as community urges full funding for support‑staff raises

Board members heard an updated FY27 budget presentation from Superintendent Dr. Peter Gurley and heard extensive public testimony urging full funding for support‑staff raises being negotiated with the Charlottesville Education Association.

Dr. Gurley told trustees the division's revenue mix is primarily local (about 63% from the city), with state funds near 20% and federal support about 6%. Enrollment trends show a September membership decline of roughly 86 students to about 4,357 total, a change that reduces projected state aid. Staff also described the local composite index benchmarking that affects state funding and outlined projected personnel and contract cost changes baked into the superintendent's proposed budget.

Multiple public commenters — paraprofessionals, school safety associates (CSAs), teachers and parents — told the board that hourly and support staff cannot afford to live in Charlottesville on current pay. Speakers asked trustees to defend the full collective bargaining ask to city council, emphasizing retention, safety and the classroom impact of vacancies. A CSA representative read a letter asking the board to honor raises promised in the collective bargaining agreement and included summary figures about rising local costs and projected household impacts.

Board members and staff discussed the timing of ratification: licensed personnel raises had been ratified earlier, but support‑staff ratification was pending a union vote scheduled in mid‑February. Trustees expressed concern about presenting a needs‑based budget to city council while the support‑staff contract remained unratified; superintendent and union representatives described a remaining disagreement on one article that union lawyers said needs resolution before ratification.

Dr. Gurley also outlined program and staffing changes tied to district reconfiguration and vacancy savings, noting an expected net reduction in FTEs from the Walker reconfiguration and other vacancy-related items. Trustees were reminded of upcoming calendar dates for joint work sessions with the city and the board's planned budget approval meeting in mid‑ to late February.

No final budget vote was taken at this meeting; the superintendent asked trustees to attend a joint work session with city council to present the needs-based budget and the community was encouraged to engage with city council ahead of the city's budget decisions.