Henrico Schools officials propose $660.9M budget
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Funding for more than 100 new full-time positions – including more elementary school counselors, library and planning assistants, as well as new permanent substitutes and full-time instructional assistants for special-needs students – highlights the proposed Henrico Schools 2020-21 fiscal year budget.
Henrico Superintendent Amy Cashwell system yesterday presented the $660.9-million budget plan to the School Board. It also includes the creation of a school bus tracking app for parents and family members; new visitor registration software and additional funding for maintenance projects countywide.
The budget represents a 3.8 percent increase from the current fiscal year plan. It’s composed of five parts, the largest of which – its general fund – totals $533.5 million.
A pay raise for all eligible general government and school system employees is likely to be included in the overall county budget proposal, which will come from County Manager John Vithoulkas within a month or so. Henrico operates on a unified pay structure, meaning that all eligible employees are offered the same pay raise.
The proposed school system budget would create:
• 40 new elementary school counselor positions – nearly doubling the existing total – to address what school officials have termed a critical need among students for social and emotional support;
• 35 full-time substitute positions with higher salaries and full-time benefits, to address what continues to be a critical need;
• 25 new full-time positions for exceptional education instructional assistant (through the conversion of the existing 25 part-time positions);
• 13 new elementary school library assistants;
• daily elementary school teacher planning time, something teachers have long requested;
• a new career ladder structure, through which employees can increase their experience, expertise and salaries.
“As I’ve talked this year with Henrico families, staff members and people in the community, I’ve gained a greater understanding of areas that need our investment if we are to continue to grow and thrive as a school division,” Cashwell said. “This financial plan incorporates that input, builds on the progress we’ve made in recent years and continues to focus on the goals in our strategic plan.”
School officials will review the budget proposal Feb. 5 with County Manager John Vithoulkas, present it to the Teacher Advisory Council Feb. 12 and then hold a public hearing about it Feb. 13 beginning at 6 p.m. at the New Bridge Auditorium. They’ll vote to adopt a proposed budget Feb. 27 and then send it to the county’s Board of Supervisors for consideration.
Supervisors establish and adopt the overall county budget and allocate a lump sum to the School Board but have no control over how the School Board spends that money.
Supervisors will hold a weeklong budget review in mid-March to hear from agency heads, then host a public hearing about the budget April 14 at 6 p.m. at the Western Government Center before adopting a budget April 28.
The budget will take effect July 1.
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