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