The Prince William County School Board approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget on March 20. Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade’s budget prioritized investments aligned with the PWCS Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Futures Strategic Plan. The budget prioritizes students and staff, as an estimated 80% of expenditures are invested in supporting the instructional core: students, staff, and curriculum.

“Investing in our schools is investing in our future,” commented Babur Lateef, M.D., Chairman At-Large of the School Board. “This budget reflects our strategic investments in continuing to offer our teachers competitive salaries, modernize our facilities, and most importantly, enrich the learning experience for every student.”

Notably, employees will earn an average 6% pay increase. With a compounding effect over five years, PWCS’ average teacher salary increase will total 28.2%. The Superintendent will have overseen a 22% increase, compounding effect, in average salaries. In addition to salary increases for FY24, PWCS added $71 million to various salary scales to improve the division’s ability to retain and recruit staff.

Other notable investments to the budget include assistance in classrooms by adding 125 new teacher assistants serving students with special needs, 23 kindergarten teacher assistants, 15.5 reading specialists, and adding a stipend for IEP case managers. Funding for the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) focuses on new additions and facilities to address need, renovation projects for older schools, and advancing sustainability goals.

Moreover, Board budget allocations will fund additional personnel for a STEM/robotics coordinator, human trafficking specialist, Language Arts supervisor, and administrative interns at middle and high schools. Further investments are made in teachers with 19 and 20 years of experience, along with a lifted experience cap to 25 years of teaching experience.

“I hope we have the opportunity to do more for PWCS,” Dr. Lateef added. “Governor Youngkin’s approval of the General Assembly budget would provide additional supports and resources for our students and teachers.”  

The Virginia General Assembly’s budget, which includes an additional $1.2 billion in general fund support for Direct Aid for Public Education over the upcoming two years, provides $64.8 million more for PWCS than was in the Governor’s proposed budget, which reduced general fund support for Direct Aid by $294 million. Extra funding would include more help for English Learners ($14.6 million), the state’s share of 3% salary increases each year for teachers and staff ($32.7 million), and monies to maintain the state’s commitments to Virginia schools and local communities.

The School Board will submit the FY 2025 Budget/CIP to the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors on April 2, with their final approval on April 25.

Information on the FY 2025 CIP and budget may be found on the PWCS Budget website.