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Fairfax County Public Schools could cut staffing reserves, delay technology replacements and postpone teacher programs to close a $28.9 million hole in its fiscal year 2027 budget.
Superintendent Michelle Reid presented the proposed reductions to the Fairfax County School Board on May 7. In a letter to families the next day, she outlined plans to reduce the staffing reserve, use alternative funding for major maintenance and extend the replacement cycle for FCPSOn devices.
Her proposal also would defer teacher microcredentialing, scale back materials for a new math curriculum and reduce the Superintendent’s Strategic Reserve.
The revised budget would eliminate more than $8.7 million from a contingency fund reserved for staffing needs that emerge after the spending plan is finalized. FCPS would save more than $5 million by not automatically replacing electronic devices and another $4.9 million by delaying the microcredentialing program.
Reid attributed the shortfall to uncertainty over state support and Fairfax County’s adopted fiscal 2027 budget, which allocated roughly $39.6 million less to FCPS than the school system requested.
Despite the reductions, the proposal includes an additional $4.1 million for middle school after-school programs. It also preserves raises negotiated with the Fairfax Education Unions in fall 2024.
FCPS plans to direct an additional $178.4 million toward employee compensation after a previous funding gap forced it to reduce raises promised for fiscal 2026.
If the latest cuts are approved, FCPS will have reduced spending by $208.1 million over two years, according to Reid’s presentation. Earlier reductions included smaller-than-planned employee raises, the elimination of classroom monitors, fewer special education teachers and electric bus purchases, and delayed acquisition of new social studies materials.
School board members largely reserved their comments for a May 14 work session, but several asked administrators to provide more information.
Hunter Mill District representative Melanie Meren urged Reid to examine the school system’s technology use, citing parental concerns about tablets and screen time. Meren said the review could reveal an opportunity to reduce technology spending.
The request follows the board’s approval of a resolution encouraging parents to wait until high school before giving children smartphones.
Board members also want to know which cuts could be reversed if the Virginia General Assembly approves additional education funding. Providence District representative Karl Frisch requested details about how much of the nearly $29 million gap could potentially be filled and the order in which FCPS would restore funding.
Reid and Chief Financial Officer Leigh Burden said differences between budget proposals from the state Senate and House of Delegates prevented them from offering a reliable estimate.
A public hearing was held May 12 at Luther Jackson Middle School. The school board is scheduled to adopt a final budget on May 21, with the spending plan taking effect July 1.