Falls Church City Public Schools School Board unanimously approved a $57.6 million operating budget for the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 23). The budget is balanced, provides a wage increase for school employees, and provides additional support for students. For the fourth year in a row, the approved budget falls within Falls Church City Council Budget Guidance.
The School Board would like to thank the City Council for adopting our budget which has met the City Council guidance for the past four years,” said Board Chair Laura Downs. “We value our partnership with the City Council and look forward to continuing our revenue sharing agreement in the years to come as it provides funding to compensate our talented teachers and staff and enables us to maintain competitive salaries to attract new teachers.”
The budget includes a step increase for eligible employees, a recovery step for employees who were eligible but did not receive one during FY 2021 due to the pandemic, and a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all staff members. Other expenditures include $3000 per year stipend for National Board Certified Teachers, and a one-time $1000 bonus for staff who are at the end of their salary lane, and implements a $15 per hour minimum wage. The budget also includes funding for Career and Technical Education, Math, and Science teachers, a School Nurse, a Psychologist, and a Secondary Campus Parent Liaison among other support.
“We must do everything we can to support teachers, staff, and students by addressing the impact of the last two years on teacher recruitment, retention, and social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs,” Superintendent Peter Noonan said.
The approved FY 23 budget is an overall 7.1 percent increase from the current FY 22 funding. It includes a City transfer increase of 6.4% or $2.8 million. State funding is anticipated to increase by 13.8% or $951 thousand. Federal revenue, however, is decreasing 3.3% increase or $19.8 thousand from the current year.
The Fall Church School Board FY 2023 Adopted Budget Highlights
Employee Compensation
A Step increase for eligible employees
Recovery Step from FY 2021 for eligible employees
3% Cost of Living increase for all staff
$15/hour minimum wage
Employer share of projected health insurance premium increases by 10 percent
Working Conditions
Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher & high school program coordinator
CTE teachers’ contract extensions
Math teacher to provide instructional support for students
Math intervention positions increased to full-time
Math/Science middle school teacher
Parent liaison at the secondary campus
Permanent substitute teachers for each school
Playground supervision to relieve teachers
Professional development for all staff
Reading, Math, and summer Child Find JTP teacher-leader stipends
School Nurse
School Psychologist
Systems Engineer
Tech Educator
School Investments
Inflationary adjustments
Preschool registrar and clinic support FTE alignment
Property insurance
School security contract
Technology equipment and services
Tuition for students attending TJHSST
Vehicle maintenance support