Concerns about budget cuts focused on student-facing positions and health care premium increases were raised at an Alexandria City School Board public hearing Tuesday (May 12) as the board seeks ways to fill a $5.6 million gap.
City Council’s $979.1 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget, adopted April 29, did not fill the $5.6 million gap the school system needs to fund its proposed $12.7 million collective bargaining agreement. After City Council’s budget approval, ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt presented a revised budget to the School Board on May 7.
The superintendent’s proposed funding cuts to fill the $5.6 million budget gap are:
- Communications Position (Multimedia Specialist) ($154,600) (1.00)
- Student Support Team Positions (Social Workers and Psychologists) ($432,500) (3.60)
- Advanced Academic Services Teacher ($303,500) (2.00)
- Communities in Schools Contract ($350,000)
- Jefferson-Houston IB Program ($134,300)
- Athletic Department ($85,100)
- Middle School Athletic Trainer ($53,900) (0.50)
- 24/26/28 Homeroom ratio Teachers ($2,973,800) (27.00)
- 24/26/28 Homeroom ratio Kinder IAs ($321,400) (6.00)
- Middle School Latin Teacher ($155,000) (1.00)
- Afghan Family Liaison & IA ($114,700) (2.00)
- School Improvement Position ($139,200) (1.00)
- EL Teacher Position ($139,200) (1.00)
- F&O [Facilities & Operations] Non-Personnel Items ($200,000)
- Additional Health Benefits Increase $1,913,300
- Reduced Pay Enhancements for all Staff ($2,003,900)
With City Council’s approved funding, the licensed staff and education support personnel bargaining units would receive a 4.2% average salary increase rather than 5.35% and 6.42%, respectively. ACPS employees also face a 5% reduction in the school system’s contributions to health insurance premiums in the proposed budget.
Alejandro Perez-Reyes, an English teacher at Alexandria City High School’s King Street Campus, raised concerns about the reduced pay increases for staff, noting the effective increase is even smaller when accounting for increases to health insurance premiums.
“The board has the opportunity to right this wrong,” Perez-Reyes, said in public comments. “Reject the recommended budgetary adjustment and direct central office to find a way forward that equitably distributes budgetary reductions and protects ACPS’s investment in its educators.”
Nick Hildebidle, an ACPS teacher and parent, said the 5% shift in health insurance premium cost to employees will result in some paying thousands more per year. He said the superintendent’s budget proposal “seems built on the idea that our educators should do more work for less.”
“Yes, this is a tough budget year, but the School Board has a real opportunity to show educators and the wider community that they can be trusted,” Hildebidle said. “Do not accept this budget that is built on asking frontline educators to make the majority of sacrifices needed to balance the books.”
Ronald Chapman, another ACPS employee, called the health care premium hike and increased shift of costs to employees a “double whammy.”
“This is not fair treatment of employees or a tactic for retention,” Chapman wrote in a public comment. “It’s maddening to all staff and leaves us doubting our futures.”
Erin Davidson, another staff member, said employees are being stretched thin.
“Teachers, support staff, instructional assistants, office personnel, custodians, and countless others dedicate themselves daily to supporting students and keeping schools running effectively,” Davidson said. “Asking employees to absorb substantially higher healthcare costs at a time when many families are already struggling financially sends the message that their dedication and service are not being valued.”
Families also raised concerns about cuts to instructional positions.
“At a time when teachers are being told there is not enough money to preserve positions, maintain staffing levels, or fully support compensation enhancements, Central Office appears largely protected from the same level of impact,” parent Suzie O’Brien wrote to the School Board. “School divisions need operational support. But if we are in a moment serious enough to justify cutting student-facing positions and reducing support for the people directly serving children every day, then it should also be serious enough to require meaningful examination of administrative and Central Office spending too.”
Parent Sarah Heckenberg said budget cuts focused on teachers send the wrong message about their value.
“And then we’re going [to] add insult to injury and cut even more from teachers who believe education can continue outside classroom all while the Central Office staff remains virtually untouched,” Heckenberg said.
Partner organizations also sounded the alarm on the $350,000 cut to Communities in Schools, which provides resources for at-risk students in several ACPS schools.
Kate Comfort, executive director of the Comfort Family Foundation, said the cut would jeopardize $814,500 in outside grant funding that depends on ACPS funding commitments. The organization noted the Community in Schools program has provided 10 bilingual staff members in six ACPS schools, helped over 100 students get vision exams and glasses, facilitated over $176,000 in basic needs support to students and helped 100% of participating seniors to graduate on time.
“I urge you to protect this $350,000 investment,” Comfort said. “It is perhaps the most efficient and effective expenditure in the budget, serving as the bridge between private resources and the students who need them most.”
The School Board will adopt the updated ACPS budget June 11.
