Warren County School Board Prioritizes Funding Ahead of Final Budget Decision

The Warren County School Board has formally outlined its top priorities should the county approve additional education funding for fiscal year 2026. At its June 4 meeting, the board passed a resolution asking the Board of Supervisors to consider an increased allocation beyond the $750,000 currently proposed, citing pressing needs in staffing, school supplies, and employee health insurance.

During the discussion, School Board Chair Kristen Pence opened by recapping the budget process so far. The board initially approved its FY26 budget proposal on March 5, requesting a $4.2 million increase in local funding compared to the previous year. The proposed school division budget totals $79.4 million.

“We have a $4.2 million ask out right now, but are there things that the five of us could agree on that we would say, if we got more than $750,000, what would we do with that money?” said Pence, emphasizing the importance of showing clear priorities as the county moves toward its final budget vote later this month.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on June 10, but a final vote on the budget isn’t expected until June 24. That delay has created uncertainty for school staff awaiting contract renewals. Pence said the delay adds “another layer of rollercoaster to this budget season” and noted that employees might leave for other districts offering firm contracts sooner.

With those concerns in mind, the school board crafted a proposal totaling $1.147 million. If granted, the revised funding request would go toward several key areas. According to the resolution, the first priority is using $750,000 to split a 10.2% increase in employee health insurance premiums between the division and its workers. That amount had been built into the original budget request and was seen as essential.

In addition to covering insurance costs, the board is seeking $80,282 to increase the non-labor supply budgets for schools. “We know the cost of every single thing has gone up,” Pence said. “Schools are having fundraisers; we’re begging parents to send in paper and pencils and pens… even just that little bit for each of the schools, I think would go a long way.”

The board also wants to use the remainder of the request to restore positions that directly support students. These include seven instructional assistant roles and one bachelor’ s-level student support coach. Pence and others emphasized the value of such positions in addressing academic and behavioral needs.

Another element involves reclassifying a previously held position into a full-time nursing coordinator. That would be funded through savings achieved in a recently renegotiated custodial services contract. Robert Ballentine, Director of Finance, explained that while the contract saved $78,295, the district was already operating with a $56,642 deficit. That leaves just over $21,000 available for reallocation—enough to support the nursing coordinator role.

The $467,233 debt service payment was also figured into the budget discussion. During the meeting, Ballentine clarified that the county has agreed to take over this cost, which relates to a 2016 energy conservation bond. “It won’t be in our school board budget, but they’re gonna have to pay it,” Ballentine said. The school division removed both the bond payment from its expenditures and the associated tax credit from its revenues, thereby reducing its overall budget without masking its actual funding needs. Had the district retained the debt payment in its figures, the local request would have risen to nearly $4.6 million, he added.

While there was discussion about whether that $467,000 could be “used” again, the consensus was clear: the funds had already been accounted for in this year’s numbers and could not be reapplied elsewhere. “We’ve already accounted for it,” Pence said. “We don’t get to play with that money.”

With a motion on the table, board members agreed to finalize and send the resolution to the county. “We’ll type this up and get it to them before that public hearing,” said Ballentine. “We usually hand-carry a letter signed by the superintendent down to the county administrator and copy the county finance director.”

The board voted unanimously in favor of the revised funding request and resolution. Their hope is that by presenting a realistic and prioritized list of needs, the county may be able to allocate more than the proposed $750,000.

“It’s not that I want to… cut our budget or defund our schools,” said board member Melanie Salins. “It’s my method of thought process… to see our request fall somewhere within the amount of money that I know is going to be coming in extra for the county.”

The board also briefly discussed the condition of the tennis courts at Skyline High School, which may require resurfacing or replacement. Estimates for the project are around $106,740, though grant funding through the United States Tennis Association (USTA) could offset up to $64,000 of that cost. While no vote was taken, officials said the topic would be addressed at an upcoming work session.

As the public hearing approaches, the board’s message is clear: additional funding beyond the baseline of $750,000 is critical to meeting the division’s operational and instructional needs.

The Board of Supervisors’ public hearing is scheduled for June 10. Warren County school staff are awaiting contract finalization by June 13, though no budget vote is expected until June 24.

Click here to watch the Warren County School Board Meeting of June 4, 2025.