Washington County Public Schools Superintendent Proposes Budget with Strategic Investments and Cuts

Washington County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David T. Sovine has put forth a draft fiscal year 2027 general fund budget that navigates an increase in available revenue against significant rising costs and evolving student needs. The proposal, presented to the Board of Education, seeks to balance new funding with the escalating demands of special education, operational expenses, and maintaining alignment with the school system’s strategic priorities.

The recommended budget anticipates approximately $14 million in new revenue, largely attributed to increased state and county funding. However, this influx is offset by several financial pressures. Student enrollment figures show a slight overall decline of 71 K-12 students in the past year. Conversely, special education enrollment has continued a multi-year upward trend, increasing by 85 students, and multilingual learner enrollment has risen by 11 students. A notable decrease of 306 students in compensatory education enrollment will lead to reduced funding for poverty-based programs. These enrollment shifts, coupled with growing needs in academic, social, emotional, and behavioral support for students, along with escalating employee benefit costs, present substantial financial challenges for the school system.

Dr. Sovine highlighted that Washington County Government is providing funding that exceeds the legally mandated Maintenance of Effort. Wealth per pupil within the county is reportedly rising faster than the state average, a calculation based on personal and commercial income tax and property tax revenue, indicating that the county is expected to bear a greater portion of public education expenses. The proposed budget does not include requests for additional funding from the Washington County Board of County Commissioners beyond legal requirements.

The superintendent’s plan earmarks strategic investments in several key areas. Special education is identified as a critical focus for necessary growth to ensure all students have supportive learning environments, with investments expected to positively impact the overall school climate and instruction. Proposed additions include seven new special education classrooms, equipped with teachers, paraprofessionals, and a social worker, which could potentially serve between 70 and 90 students. Funding will also continue for special education paraprofessionals. To bolster instructional leadership, five elementary schools are slated to receive new assistant principal positions. Furthermore, expanded early learning and pre-K special education supports will be provided through Blueprint funding. The budget also allocates funds for the purchase of two new school buses and two passenger vans, aiming to help reinstate the bus replacement cycle.

Regarding staff compensation, the proposed salary resource pool includes a 1% cost-of-living adjustment for employees. Dr. Sovine acknowledged the dedication and hard work of the staff, stating that this increase does not fully represent their contributions. He indicated that supporting the growing student needs with available funding makes it challenging to offer a larger salary enhancement.

The draft budget also necessitates approximately $915,000 in reductions. These cuts are primarily concentrated within the Center for Education Services (CES), including difficult staffing reductions. Notably, the Associate Superintendent position, which is currently vacant, will be eliminated. This follows previous recommended staffing reductions at CES exceeding $400,000 in the current fiscal year. Additional savings are anticipated through adjustments to the Evening High program budget and underspent elementary teacher planning wage lines. The superintendent emphasized that the draft budget is the result of careful analysis and difficult decisions, with a persistent focus on student needs.

The Washington County Board of Education is scheduled to further consider the superintendent’s draft budget at their public business meeting on February 17, 2026. At this meeting, the Board may vote to adopt the budget as presented or provide additional feedback to the superintendent for further revisions.

Residents can follow the FY2027 budget process through updates provided by Washington County Public Schools. The proposed budget, while acknowledging increased revenue, will require careful consideration of its impact on services and staffing levels due to the necessary reductions.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Washington County Public Schools

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