Warren County School Board Approves $82.6 Million Budget After Heated Debate on Teacher Pay, Substitutes and Roof Repairs

The Warren County School Board voted Tuesday night to approve the superintendent’s proposed $82.6 million operating budget for fiscal year 2027, following nearly two hours of discussion and public comment during a Feb. 18 work session.

The proposed budget represents a $5.8 million increase over the current year’s local operating budget. When textbooks and capital improvements are included, the total requested increase from the county comes to $7.23 million.

Board members approved the proposal by unanimous roll-call vote, though several said adjustments may be needed as more information becomes available in the coming weeks.

Public voices shape the discussion

Four speakers addressed the board during the public hearing, sharing concerns about teacher pay, substitute staffing, and the overall cost of education.

Andrea Brady, a 27-year teacher who recently left Warren County for a job in Prince William County, spoke about financial struggles that led to her decision.

“I miss my kids. I miss the staff,” Brady said. “But I’ll be bluntly honest, a $40,000 pay raise made it really easy to make that transition.”

Brady said she worked multiple side jobs over the years to make ends meet and never believed she would be able to retire in Warren County on her teacher’s salary alone.

Her comments came as the board reviewed salary increases included in the proposal. The budget calls for a 4 percent salary increase plus step advancement for most staff.

Another speaker, John Jenkins, raised concerns about the overall size of the increase and the cost per student. He noted that Warren County’s student population has declined in recent years and questioned whether the division’s educational quality matches its spending.

“Money is important,” Jenkins said, “but the quality of education that the children should get, in my mind, should be the most important.”

The division’s average daily membership has fallen from 5,242 students eight years ago to 4,692 projected for FY27 — a loss of about 550 students. Officials estimate that the drop has reduced state funding by roughly $3.3 million over that period.

Superintendent and board members explained that while enrollment is down, staffing reductions do not always match those losses, especially in classrooms serving students with special needs.

Substitute staffing debate

A major topic of discussion was the proposal to bring substitute staffing back in-house instead of continuing with Educational Support Services (ESS), the current contractor.

Several substitute teachers spoke in support of keeping ESS.

Joanna Postlethwait, who said this was her first school board meeting, told members she is “very proud” to work for ESS. A mother of three grown children and the wife of a local minister, Postlethwait said she became a substitute after seeing a need to support teachers.

Postlethwait shared stories of students who struggle with reading and math and said substitutes often provide critical one-on-one support.

“I was in a classroom today, and a note came, ‘Please help so-and-so. She cannot read.’ She’s in third grade,” Postlethwait said. “Fifth graders can’t read. They have trouble doing math.”

She urged the board not to cut funding tied to ESS substitutes or instructional aides.

“You should not, not, not cut the budget for an ESS substitute or instructional aide,” she said. “How can we help the teachers?”

Sue Cullers, another ESS substitute, praised the company’s structure and leadership.

“We’re talking about a program that works,” Cullers said. “Substitutes show up. Schools are covered. So why are we going to dismantle something that is clearly successful?”

Charlie Martin, also an ESS substitute, said consistency matters for students.

“When there’s consistency… schools can rely on familiar faces,” Martin said, adding that students often ask for specific substitutes by name.

Division leaders said the change is being considered for financial reasons. Officials estimate ESS adds about a 33 percent markup to substitute costs. The proposed FY27 substitute budget is approximately $1.1 million, nearly double what it was three years ago.

Division leaders emphasized that if the substitute program is brought back in-house, the goal would be to retain the same individuals currently working as ESS substitutes. Officials said the system for accepting assignments would remain in place, minimizing disruption for schools and substitutes. By eliminating the estimated 33 percent contractor markup, administrators said the savings could potentially allow the division to increase substitute pay rates while maintaining local control of the program.

Board members also discussed how substitutes are paid. Currently, they are paid monthly. Some members said weekly or bi-weekly pay should be explored if substitutes are brought in-house.

“That’s going to be a sticking point for me,” Board member Melanie Salins said, noting that more frequent pay may help retain workers.

Health insurance spike

Another challenge is rising health insurance costs. Human Resources staff reported that renewal rates from The Local Choice increased by 23.7 percent, nearly double earlier projections of 12 percent.

Officials said the division will now issue a request for proposals to compare fully insured and self-insured options. The current budget assumes about $7.3 million in local funding for health insurance, and leaders said they will need to work within that amount until final numbers are known.

“No panic,” Rachel Drake, HR Director, told the board. “We will continue to work behind the scenes.”

Roof repairs and capital needs

The board also reviewed capital improvement requests, including roof work at Hilda J. Barbour Elementary School.

Members debated whether to replace the school’s aging shingle roof with another shingle roof at a lower cost, or invest in a more expensive standing-seam metal roof expected to last up to 60 years.

The proposed capital improvement request totals $1.235 million and includes roof work, three replacement school buses, energy management upgrades, and other repairs.

Some members favored the less expensive shingle option this year, noting the overall size of the budget request. Others argued that the metal roof would save money in the long run.

In the end, the board approved the budget as presented, which includes funding for a shingle replacement. Members said the metal option could be revisited later, possibly using carryover funds if available.

Next steps

The approved budget will be presented to the Warren County Board of Supervisors on March 4. Officials expect adjustments may be needed as final state revenue numbers and health insurance bids are received.

Board member Melanie Salins noted that this was the first time in years she felt comfortable voting in favor of the school budget.

“We started early. We planned it well. All of us were involved,” Salins said. “And I actually believe that we need the money this year.”

The coming weeks will determine how much of the requested increase the county is willing and able to fund.

Click here to watch the Warren County School Board Work Session of February 18, 2026.