FCPS cuts funding for staff and programs
The Fairfax County School Board adopted a budget for fiscal year 2026 after making some tough decisions to offset a $121 million shortfall.
The board reduced to 6 percent the previously agreed-upon 7 percent raise for employees represented by Fairfax Education Unions. Non-union employees will get a 5 percent raise.
Teachers, however, might have larger classes, as the board adjusted the staffing formula to reduce general education teacher positions, primarily through attrition.
The school board had requested a $268 million increase in transfer funds from Fairfax County. But the FY 2026 budget approved earlier this month by the Board of Supervisors includes an increase of just $118.6 million.
Related story: Board of Supervisors approves meals tax, cuts tax rate
The school budget includes the following reductions:
- Funding for classroom monitors is eliminated.
- New curriculum materials for social studies are delayed.
- The budget for every central office department is reduced by 3 percent.
- Funding is paused for electric buses.
- Non-local travel for professional development is cut by 50 percent.
The budget reduces funding for advanced academic resource teachers and elementary special education department chairs. However, FCPS says regional office leaders will work with schools to find school-based funding to retain those positions for at least the coming year.
“These are difficult choices,” said Superintendent Michelle Reid. “We remain committed to making the best and highest use of every available dollar while continuing to support our students, our staff, and our mission.”
“Everybody is being asked to give something up. At the same time, we are using laser-like precision to lessen the impact of the changes on our classrooms, students, and educators,” said School Board Chair Karl Frisch (Providence). “However, this budget reflects hard choices shaped by underfunding.”
I don’t envy her job. I also don’t appreciate the language that the county is “chronically underfunding” schools when it wasn’t until push came to shove that they canned electric busses. How much excess money over standard busses has already been spent on that? The budget should reflect supporting educators first and pet projects way below that.
Thank you
A family member is an elementary SPED department chair. I don’t think people realize what this role entails. They draft lesson plans for subs when the department is understaffed, and they are always understaffed. They ensure all support adheres to compliance laws, avoiding possible lawsuits. When a child’s behavior escalates, they’re the person tasked with addressing the situation, meaning they’re the ones who are bitten and kicked. Not funding that position will affect every student and teacher involved in special education.
Where was the fiscal responsibility when they spent millions to rename schools? Couldn’t they have spaced that out or reduced the impact of each of those renames — none of which put dollars into teachers or curriculum which is what taxpayers want to fund first and foremost?
How much is being wasted on the boundary review? Outside consultants moving neighborhoods around without rhyme or reason. Not factoring in modular units in overcapacity in the review. In some cases moving walkers to a school where they will not be bussed.
Gatehouse salaries are disproportionate to the work/responsibilities.
They are more concerned with optics than education.
Everything other than classroom teachers is overhead. The further the expense is from the classroom, the greater the priority in cutting. Just my opinion.
You are absolutely correct. If you look at a bar graph of the increases in spending areas of schools over the last 20 years, the biggest increase is in supervisory roles. Having taught for 48 years, I can tell you those roles are a huge waste of money whereas significantly lowering class size results in improvement in kids achievement.
The electric buses were funded by a federal grant that got frozen by the Trump administration. It’s a nation-wide problem.
My guess is that covering that missing funding is less of an immediate priority for the County than classroom resources and basic operstions, so FCPS is holding off on the electric buses until the funding is restored by the courts or another source of money is found.
Here’s more on the electric school bus situation: https://apnews.com/article/trump-electric-school-buses-districts-funding-biden-19fe231d30fc8ff606cae9f6987074c8
We the salary of the super intendant and her assistants + the board members was not affected? those officials are supposed to be a roll model and gave up to a part of their salary!
*role model
*superintendent
What percentage of the cuts effects elementary schools?
Not sure why the school board continues to push for the boundary review by paying valuable dollars to a consultant that isn’t in touch with the community and doing an awful job. FCPS should resolve the issue with Coates ES and not touch anything else. Also, the school board should adapt to ensure it maintains federal funding. Don’t push nonsense education that will result in the loss of valuable federal dollars.
So union members get 6% and non union members get 5%. WHY??? Perhaps to get more members as FCPS is paying the dues. Is that right or even fair?
I am wondering why my property taxes have risen 50% over the last two years and still the schools are underfunded…please consider education for education’s sake before hiring consultants, renaming buildings, and excessive borrowing re bonds…which never seems to be enough either…0 Here’s an example of non sense…I was shocked to learn that if a school wants to change the interior paint color of its walls from government drab green to off white..the school has to pay for it!!! What? Paint? So the school interior is painted or touched up every year with the same color it has been for literally 60 years…
And classroom sizes do actually matter…to name another upside down situation.
Heads of school are in a real bind this next year to make things work for their schools…and it wasn’t so easy before this news.
SO MUCH FOR EQUITY!!!!
There are WAY too many administrators in the school system. When my kids were at Oakton there was a VP and a separate “administrator” for each grade. That’s double the number of people there should be. Nearly 40% of the FCPS personnel budget is for non classroom positions (by its own accounting). Cut that by at least 25% and you could pay teachers what was promised. Cut it by half and the whole system would probably run smoother without so much beaurocracy.
Bob we need more admin, not less. If you’ve ever spent quality time in a high school, you’ve seen how they essentially run around all day putting out proverbial fires. Actually, what we need is effective rules and meaningful consequences for not adhering to them.
This not related to the schools, but to overall spending.
I attend a County Senior Center. For over a year their Advisory Council discussed funding the purchase of a large=screen TV. Eventually they were told that the County had to purchase this type of item. Sometime afterwards, four TVs were installed — three wall-mounted and one on a roll-around stand. Also installed were an overhead projector and ceiling-mounted pull-down screen.
The TV on the stand is used for instructional videos, but the other TVs are not. And I have never seen the overhead projector used. A fancy gaming computer and monitor with a transparent case and LED lights was installed in the computer room. I have never seen it being used. When I asked who had requested the computer, I was told no one had, but the County said it was because all Centers had to have the same equipment.
So this seems to me spending without considering need. And one reason we are having a meal tax forced on us.
You’re cutting programs yet you send kids to institutions that they don’t belong in.. people should investigate this if you’re concerned about your taxes and what programs are getting cut.