Warren County School Board Reviews Raises, Capital Projects, and Rising Costs in Second Budget Work Session

The Warren County School Board met for its second budget work session on October 28, continuing its planning for the 2026–27 school year budget. School officials presented proposals for multi-year salary increases, critical school facility upgrades, and updates on textbook needs, while also warning about rising costs in transportation, supplies, and staffing.

“This is the last scheduled meeting before our joint session with the Board of Supervisors,” said Acting Superintendent Dr. David Martin, referring to the November 13 meeting. “We want everybody to feel comfortable with what we’re presenting.”

A Three-Year Plan for Raises

Director of Human Resources Rachel Drake presented a three-year salary improvement plan for all school employees, designed to keep Warren County more competitive with nearby divisions. The proposal includes a 4% raise plus a step increase in the first year, followed by similar increases in years two and three.

“We’re working on a strategic plan that gives raises over time instead of just once,” Drake said. She noted that other school divisions are already moving ahead with raises and warned that Warren County may fall further behind if it doesn’t act.

The plan also includes targeted updates to salary scales for support staff and coaching stipends, particularly for Virginia High School League (VHSL) head coaches. A proposed $30,000 stipend for a school psychology intern is also being considered to attract future staff in a hard-to-fill area.

Board member Melanie Salins said she liked the long-term structure. “I like having a plan in place and knowing what to expect,” she said. “It’s easier to look at in the future instead of saying we need all this money right now.”

Instructional Assistant, Nurse, and Bus Driver Pay Adjustments

Drake also shared proposed changes to salary scales for:

• Instructional Assistants (IAs): Staff would be grouped into two tiers — Level 1 for general education and Level 2 for more advanced support roles, such as special education or behavior programs. Level 2 IAs would earn about $2 more per hour.
• Nurses: The pay scale would be shortened from 30 years to 16 years, and a category for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) would be added to attract more applicants.
• Bus Drivers: The scale would shift from 4.5-hour to 5-hour workdays, reflecting longer routes caused by staggered school start times.

Board members asked how many IAs currently qualify for Level 2 and if updated job descriptions were in place. Drake said those documents are in progress and would help with clarity and recruitment.

DECA Stipends Still Under Review

Some board members questioned why DECA club advisors, who often travel with students for competitions, aren’t receiving the same pay supplements as instructors in other state-recognized programs like FFA.

Drake explained that DECA is currently considered a club, not a program of study officially recognized by the Virginia Department of Education, which makes it harder to fund under existing guidelines.

“We’re not saying we wouldn’t want to present that,” she said, “but how do we keep it fair and equal with all of the clubs is probably the biggest struggle.”

Capital Needs: Roofs, Band Uniforms, and Bus Lifts

Assistant Superintendent Dr. John Costner presented a long list of capital improvement requests from school principals and operations staff. Among the top priorities:

• Roof replacements at multiple schools, starting with Hilda J. Barbour Elementary
• New band uniforms and instruments for both high schools, some of which have not been updated in over 20 years
• Bus garage upgrades, including replacing broken lifts and doors
• New school buses, with 15 buses already past their replacement age
• Technology upgrades, including Chromebooks needed for SOL testing

Costner said the division is “down to the bare minimum” for buses and warned that if two buses break down at once, it could cause route delays or cancellations.

He also suggested matching funds raised by booster clubs for band uniforms, calling it a possible “shared-cost model” that could help fund new equipment.

Textbooks: Critical Replacements Coming

Director of Secondary Instruction Heather Bragg explained that several textbook contracts will expire at the end of the 2025–26 school year, particularly for math and middle school social studies.

“If we don’t invest in new textbooks, we won’t have a core resource,” Bragg said. She explained that many teachers are printing off materials from the internet, which may not align with standards.

The estimated cost of textbook adoptions is between $685,000 and $1 million, depending on the format. In past years, these purchases were funded by federal pandemic relief money, which is no longer available.

The board discussed creating a dedicated textbook fund, but financial leaders said that would require annual savings — something that hasn’t been possible due to rising costs elsewhere, especially in health insurance.

Other Budget Pressures

The board also reviewed a range of other cost drivers:

• Custodial, food service, and substitute staffing contracts are expected to rise, with vendors like ESS, Sodexo, and ATS requesting higher rates
• Title I federal funding has been reduced, which may require some staff to be moved to local funding
• Principals submitted non-labor requests such as new copiers, library materials, and science kits

Finance staff also asked the board to clarify that Fiscal Year 2027 refers to the 2026–27 school year, to avoid confusion when the budget is presented to the public.

What’s Next?

The next key date is the joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors, scheduled for November 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the School Board Meeting Room. Another joint session is planned for December 10.

Dr. Martin said his team would prepare a one-page summary of major costs and needs to guide the conversation with county leaders.

“We’ve taken off the blinders,” Martin said at the end of the meeting. “Kudos to them because they’ve really done an outstanding job.”

Watch the Warren County School Board Meeting of October 28, 2025, provided by WCPS. Meeting starts at 15:45.