Stafford School Board Work Session Special Called Meeting 7 14 2026

The Stafford County Public Schools held a special called work session on July 14, 2026, focused on reconciling the FY27 budget amid unexpected funding reductions from the Board of Supervisors. The discussion centered on addressing a $1.1 million shortfall primarily caused by a $1.075 million cut in unrestricted funds, while restricted funds for at-risk students, special education, and one-time expenditures remained unchanged. Key procurement-related topics included prioritizing funding for middle school safety and security officers, purchasing buses (reducing the original request from five to two), and acquiring updated textbooks aligned with new state standards. The board debated the allocation of funds for hiring four additional high school counselors to reduce caseloads, ultimately agreeing to fund these positions by reallocating $392,000 from one-time funds and reducing expenditures on security sandboxes by $43,000. Concerns were raised about rising utility costs, projected to increase by approximately 24%, and the challenges of budgeting for these ongoing expenses. The board approved the FY27 budget with these adjustments, acknowledging the need to prioritize mental health staffing and address utility cost uncertainties in future budget cycles. No decision was made regarding staff bonuses due to lack of local funding.