Richmond School Board weighs proposed budget cuts
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond School Board discussed revisions to its budget for the upcoming fiscal year Tuesday night, including several million dollars in spending reductions meant to accommodate for an about $20 million budget shortfall.
The city of Richmond allocated $248.9 million to its school district for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This is $9.6 million more than it received during the 2024-25 fiscal year -- however, it's also about $20 million less than school leadership requested.
Following this announcement, the school board drafted a revised budget proposal that includes just under $13.8 million in budget reductions.
“The painful reality is that there just isn’t enough money to go around," said superintendent Jason Kamras in a previous statement. "Our community’s needs outstrip its resources."
Kamras previously assured Richmond Public Schools staff that the various raises leaders agreed to through collective bargaining would remain in the budget. That is reflected in this new proposal, with nearly $16.5 million dedicated to percentage wage increases across many positions.
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Other notable budget items include $5.5 million to hire 55 multilingual learner teachers, $50,000 to expand the student mentorship program and $30,000 to cover enhanced security at graduation ceremonies.
Budget reductions include about $3.1 million in potential savings by eliminating "long-open vacancies," as well as just under $4 million in potential savings -- across two different budget items -- by reducing costs in things like software, supplies, textbooks and more.
Board members discuss budget during May meeting
At a school board meeting on Tuesday, May 6, Kamras said the board reviewed the revised budget proposal the previous evening at a work session. During that work session, they reportedly asked many questions about the adjusted budget. Kamras said those questions are in the process of being answered.
He then gave the other board members an opportunity to ask any additional questions they may have now that they've had more time to look at the related documents.
Board member Shonda-Harris Muhammed said she wanted clarification on the positions being eliminated under the $3.1 million reduction.
Kamras said this data, as well as information on how long each position has been vacant, is being gathered.
Board member Stephanie Rizzi stated she was not in favor of a proposed reduction aimed at the school board's audit department. The revised budget proposal suggests eliminating a junior position vacancy in said department to save $125,000.
"It is really important that that department is strong," she said. "I remember the process that we had to go [through] to create those positions -- and to, without discussion, decide to eliminate that position does not sit well with me."
Board member Cheryl Burke agreed with Rizzi about the potential consequences of removing an audit department position.
"I don't want us to go backwards," Burke said.
She said she recalled a time, prior to Kamras' appointment, when the audit department was only staffed by one person.
"We must be held accountable for our financial responsibilities," Burke said, emphasizing the importance of the audit department's role in that regard.
Rizzi also said she found potential reductions to the school board's own budget -- which she described as already "extremely bare bones" -- to be "disturbing." She said she believed cutting proposed "professional development" funding would make it harder for board members to best serve their districts.
"We have to have professional development under our hats in order to lead," Burke said, agreeing.
Board chair Shavonda Fernandez said she believed Rizzi's concerns about the school board needing a strong budget were justified.
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Fernandez clarified that the school board's budget itself was not reduced in the proposal. Instead, this professional development program will receive $10,000 instead of the $25,000 that was previously suggested. Fernandez added that the original $25,000 figure was only discussed and not officially decided upon.
Kamras said that all questions should be answered by the beginning of next week.
The school board will vote on the budget during its June regular meeting.
