Hiring Decision Pending for Next York County Superintendent
York School Board recommends $26M Capital Program for FY27, full budget review planned for coming weeks
Last month, the York County School Division concluded interviews for a new superintendent, though no appointment has been announced at the time of this report. For now, Dr. James Carroll, the division’s chief operating officer, remains in the role of interim superintendent after the retirement of Dr. Victor Shandor last year. According to the school system, the school board conducted the interviews for the new superintendent between January 10 and January 24.
During a meeting held earlier in January, the five-members of the elected School Board chose Zoran Pajevic (District 2) as Board Chair and James Richardson (District 4) as Vice Chair. Along with the process of hiring the new superintendent, school system leadership is also developing its Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget and long-term capital planning. School officials state that preliminary figures are in response to shifting enrollment trends, funding constraints, and ongoing facility needs.
FY26 Budget Review
FY27 planning follows the adoption of a $199.5 million General Fund operating budget for FY26, a 3.2 percent increase over FY25, with total approved funding of $262.7 million across all funds. State aid remained the largest revenue source, though officials noted a multi-year decline in the state’s share of overall funding. York County’s relatively high Local Composite Index continues to limit state support, while federal funding is expected to remain flat or decline in FY27. Officials also reiterated that Virginia Lottery proceeds replace, rather than add to, existing education funding.
Preview: FY27 Budget and CIP
At a January School Board meeting, administrators outlined a challenging long-term financial outlook shaped by enrollment trends and state funding policies. Officials noted that Virginia Lottery proceeds often replace, rather than supplement, General Fund education dollars, limiting overall gains for school divisions. While the FY26 budget assumes conservative enrollment growth to 13,051 students, state projections indicate a modest decline in student enrollment in FY26 and FY27, which typically results in reduced state aid.
The School Board approved the Superintendent’s FY27 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), totaling $26.7 million and following $20.1 million in capital funding in FY26. The plan includes a new 15-year long-range planning addendum and projects $117 million in capital spending over six years (FY27–FY32). For FY27, the CIP prioritizes emergent needs and deferred maintenance to help avoid higher long-term costs. Projects with funding requests for FY27 include:
Tabb High School – Major renovations and additions including a new main entrance, KIVA, Learning Commons, and conversion of HVAC systems to geothermal.
FY26: $19,285,912
FY27: $18,800,000
FY 28: $1,385,000
Total Project Cost: $39,470,912
Bruton High School - Replacement of aging HVAC equipment and controls to improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
FY27: $500,000
FY28: $3,240,000
Total Project Cost: $3,740,000
Queens Lake Middle School – Architectural and engineering design for an eight-classroom addition, cafeteria expansion, new gym, and roof replacement.
FY27: $2,000,000
FY28-30: $28,805,000
Total Project Cost: $30,805,000
Bethel Manor Elementary – Four- to six-classroom addition, a new full-sized gymnasium, and renovations to the existing cafetorium. The CIP identifies the use of federal funds.
FY27: $3,200,000
FY28: $6,780,000
Total Project Cost: $9,980,000
Dare Elementary / SBO – Construction of a new bus loop to separate traffic, expansion of parking areas, and replacement of the gymnasium HVAC system.
FY26: $151,800
FY27: $1,718,000
FY28: $500,000
Total Project Cost: $2,369,800
The School Board also approved Resolution 26-06, requesting approximately $13.6 million in general obligation bonds from the York County Board of Supervisors to finance the approved capital projects. The CIP defines the division’s facility needs, while the bond request provides the funding mechanism to implement them.
Increase in Economically Disadvantaged Students
FY27 projections are further influenced by declining Average Daily Membership, with enrollment forecast to drop by 18 students following a reduction in FY26. Because state funding is tied to ADM and the Standards of Quality, lower enrollment is expected to reduce state revenue in the coming fiscal year. The county reports that State data anticipates a decrease of 18 students in FY27, following a reduction of 33 students in FY26.
At the same time, due to increasing free-lunch eligibility rates, five additional schools — Coventry, Grafton, Bethel Manor, Seaford, and Waller Mill — now qualify for this funding for FY27. While this program offers approximately $900,000 in additional state revenue, accessing it requires the division to lower student-teacher ratios, creating logistical hurdles. Officials noted that capitalizing on these funds necessitates not only hiring additional teachers but also finding the physical classroom space to accommodate more distinct classes. Furthermore, administrators emphasized that serving this growing population requires additional investments in remediation, tutoring, and social supports, straining resources even as general enrollment projections flatten.
Community Engagement and Next Steps
Family engagement efforts continue to grow alongside the division’s financial planning, with strong participation reported across school-based programs. At the January 12 meeting, staff shared data showing that 64 events had been held so far during the 2025–26 school year, drawing more than 20,000 attendees and surpassing last year’s total attendance by over 2,000.
Aligned with the “Collective Commitment” strategic priority, the events emphasize two-way communication rather than passive attendance. Programming ranges from academic information nights to student-led presentations focused on safety and wellness. Highlights included a high school advanced learning night hosted at Grafton Middle School and an anti-bullying presentation at Coventry Elementary, underscoring the division’s continued focus on engaging families as active partners in student success.
Development of the FY27 operating budget will continue through the spring following the division’s established process of assessing needs, aligning requests with strategic priorities, and School Board review. The proposed FY27 budget will then be forwarded to the York County Board of Supervisors, which holds final authority over school funding decisions.
Based on the School Division’s budget calendar and recent discussions, these are the key steps in the upcoming FY27 budget process:
February 2026
Feb. 9: Superintendent presents the proposed FY27 operating budget to the School Board.
Mid-February: Staff monitors the General Assembly’s budget “crossover” for early indications of state K–12 funding.
Feb. 23: School Board holds public hearings on the proposed budget.
March–May 2026
March 23: School Board approves its proposed FY27 operating budget.
After approval: Budget is submitted to the York County Board of Supervisors.
May 5: Board of Supervisors considers and approves the School Board budget and CIP.
May 18: School Board adopts the final FY27 operating budget.
The writer used AI tools and these sources:
Special Meeting- Announcement of Superintendent Interview Window Friday, January 9, 2026
School Board Organizational Meeting Monday, January 12, 2026
https://yorkcountyschools.org/aboutUs/schoolBoard/default.aspx
https://yorkcountyschools.org/aboutUs/leadership/default.aspx
https://yorkcountyschools.org/aboutUs/budget/FY27_Budget/default.aspx
https://yorkcountyschools.org/aboutUs/budget/docs/ApprovedAnnualBudget26.pdf
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