Budget, Collective Bargaining Ordinance OK'd At Prince William Schools

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — The Prince William County School Board approved the school district's budget and first collective bargaining ordinance Wednesday, marking two actions with an impact on school personnel.

The collective bargaining ordinance with the Prince William Education Association is the first for the school district since Virginia legislation that took effect on May 1, 2021 allowed public sector employees in localities to negotiate collective bargaining agreements with their employers. The School Board had adopted an ordinance to allow collective bargaining in December 2022. Prince William Education Association (PWEA), with an effective date of July 1, 2024, until June 30, 2027.

"I am proud that PWCS is one of the first, and largest, school divisions in the state of Virginia to have reached a Collective Bargaining Agreement," said Dr. Babur Lateef, the chairman of the Prince William County School Board. "Having great teachers and great staff to support our students is critical. We will continue to ensure we are the best place to work and provide competitive wages for our employees."

The agreement covers licensed staff like instructors and classified employees, except for employees named as exempt in the collective bargaining resolution. It will take effect and run through June 20, 2027.

The School Board also took action Wednesday on the Prince William County Public Schools budget. The fiscal year 2025 budget approved by the School Board totals $1.663 billion and provides an average employee pay increase of 6 percent. The budget would be an 8.5 percent increase over the last year's 1.532 billion budget. According to a school district statement, an estimated 80 percent of the budget support the instructional core of students, staff and curriculum.

Other budget priorities include 125 new teacher assistant positions for students with special needs, 23 kindergarten teacher assistants, 15.5 reading specialists, a stipend for IEP case managers, start-up costs for a new Woodbridge area elementary school to open in August 2025, and start-up costs for the rebuilt Occoquan Elementary School to open in December 2025. The updated capital budget plans funds for new facilities and additions, renovation projects and sustainability improvements. A PWCS spokesperson confirmed the collective bargaining ordinance is factored into the budget.

The PWCS budget is dependent on state and county funding being finalized. One change in the budget is more potential state funding through the Virginia General Assembly's approved budget. The budget passed by the legislature provides $64.8 million more in funding for PWCS than the governor's budget proposal. The additional funding is proposed to go toward English Learners support ($14.6 million), the state share of 3 percent annual teacher and staff salary increases each year for teachers and staff ($32.7 million) and other commitments from the state. The state budget must be finalized with Gov. Glenn Youngkin's approval.

"I hope we have the opportunity to do more for PWCS," said Lateef. "Governor Youngkin’s approval of the General Assembly budget would provide additional supports and resources for our students and teachers."

PWCS receives a large share of its funding from the county government. The county has a revenue sharing agreement to provide 57.23 percent of the county's general revenues with PWCS. The School Board will present the PWCS budget to the Board of County Supervisors on April 2. The Board of County Supervisors budget adoption is set for April 23.

SEE ALSO:

• Same Real Estate Tax Rate Proposed In Prince William County Budget
• Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Timeline Announced In Prince William County