Prince Edward superintendent asks supervisors for $400,000 to shore up pay, staffing and facilities

Chip Jones, superintendent of Prince Edward County Public Schools, asked the Board of Supervisors on Thursday for an additional $400,000 in county funding for the 2026–27 school budget to address teacher recruitment, retention and capital needs.

Jones told the board the division is budgeting conservatively for 1,750 students next year while state projections put enrollment at about 1,775. "I'm asking for an additional $400,000," he said, adding the money would help make salaries more competitive and fund positions that support instruction and student wellness.

Why it matters: Jones framed the request as part of a broader effort to stabilize staffing and sustain academic progress in a rural division facing statewide competition for teachers. He said raising the teacher starting salary to $55,000 would place Prince Edward near the top of its Region 8 peers and improve chances of hiring and keeping qualified educators.

Details and priorities: Jones outlined several components of the request: competitive staff compensation and benefits, two instructional assistants (one for the New Horizons alternative center and one to proctor online classes), three mental-health counselors (elementary, middle and high), a part-time recruiter position for targeted hiring, and site improvements including repaving, fencing and equipment replacement. He also highlighted a capital opportunity: a used chiller available from another district that, after installation and delivery, would cost "a little less than $120,000" compared with an estimated new unit at about $500,000.

Budget context: Jones summarized federal and state funding assumptions in the presentation. He cited a projected state allocation of about $19,776,427 and said federal program funding was expected to increase roughly $427,000; those figures, he added, depend on the final state budget and actions by the General Assembly. He told the board he prefers to budget conservatively rather than overestimate enrollment-driven revenue.

International teachers and costs: Board members pressed Jones on reliance on international teachers. Jones said the division employs 47 international teachers and described visa arrangements (J-1 and H-1B) and related costs: sponsorship and credentialing expenses that can range from about $7,000 to $10,000, and vendor placement fees the superintendent said can be "anywhere from 17 to $22,000 per teacher per year." He said the division pays salaries while health benefits and some employer fees are handled by the vendor company.

Next steps: Jones said the schools will send a formal letter with the budget request for the board's March meeting. County staff and supervisors discussed capping any request funded from school savings at half that amount; the board will review the superintendent's letter and consider the request as part of the March budget process.

Ending: The board heard the schools' presentation and asked follow-up questions during the meeting; no final action on the request was taken at this session.