ALEXANDRIA, VA — The final Alexandria City Public Schools budget was approved by the School Board with staff pay increases and new classroom resources last Thursday following the conclusion of the city government budget process.
The approval included a $378.2 million combined funds budget, which covers the operating budget, school nutrition funds, and grant and special project fund, as well as a $379.5 million 10-year capital budget for 2025 to 2034. Most of the combined funds budget is the $273.0 million operating budget, a 5.5 percent from last year’s budget.
“The adoption of the Final FY 2025 Combined Funds Budget allows the division to continue our focus and efforts on recruitment and retention, aiding in maintaining a diverse and talented workforce to educate our future,” said ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt in a statement. “I am extremely appreciative of the collaboration of our financial services team, division staff, City Council and the Alexandria City School Board, for their work, dedication to our students and shared vision for a prosperous future.”
The budget includes pay increases as ACPS seeks to remain competitive in the regional job market for staff recruitment and retention. Employees will receive a 1.5 percent market rate adjustment in addition to a 2 percent market rate adjustment given in January 2024. Eligible employees will receive step increases, and the hourly or casual employees like substitute teachers will see higher wage rates. Recruitment and retention bonuses will be given for positions like special education, other teacher roles and transportation.
Staffing will be boosted in some places based on enrollment. These include additional homeroom teachers, English learner teachers and specialized instruction teachers. There will also be new positions to support new academic pathways and courses with the opening of the reconstructed Minnie Howard Campus in the next school year.
The budget also accounts for improved cybersecurity needs and technology, facility and operational funding for risk management and property insurances and higher operational costs from the new Minnie Howard campus. New middle school athletics will be introduced with funding for equipment, uniforms, stipends and transportation.
The school district’s 10-year capital budget includes modernizing the ACPS Transportation facility, George Mason Elementary and Cora Kelly School renovation projects, deferred playground maintenance and renovations to convert two floors to office space at the 1701 N. Beauregard St. facility, and textbook and technology upgrades.
The combined funds budget was first proposed in January, and the School Board approved an advertised budget on Feb. 22. Because the ACPS budget is dependent on city government funding, it was finalized after City Council approved the final city budget on May 1.
