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Southampton County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Gwendolyn P. Shannon and Director of Finance Joy Carr presented the latest version of the school division’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget to the Southampton County School Board on Monday, March 3.

The presentation preceded a 2025-26 operating budget public hearing during which no one from the public spoke or attended.

As noted in the budget slideshow presentation, the FY26 draft local operating budget totals $38,282,007.

This represents a 3.55% increase ($1,311,254) on the FY25 approved local operating budget of $36,970,753.

Presentation noted that the school division’s current local revenue equals $11,549,311, and the proposed budget is requesting an estimated local revenue increase of $2,499,745. Setting apart the requested increase of $95,669 in local revenue dedicated to debt service, the estimated requested local revenue increase for operations equals $2,404,076.

The budget presentation’s recap on revenue also noted that estimated state revenue for FY26 is $24,128,651. The recap also estimates local non-resident tuition revenue at $60,000 and federal to school operating for adult education at $44,300.

Shannon prefaced Carr’s budget presentation by highlighting the key priorities of the budget.

“Our budget priorities are teacher pay and retention, expanding learning opportunities and increasing student achievement, maintaining competitiveness and then seeking funding for infrastructure and new schools,” she said.

The presentation included a reminder that the biennial budget included a 3% salary increase for all SOQ funded positions effective July 1, 2025. 

“This budget presentation includes a 3% increase for all employees,” the presentation stated. “State funding for this increase is $808,855. Estimated cost to provide 3% to all personnel is $1,050,180, a difference of $241,325.”

The presentation highlighted needs informing the FY26 budget, including those in the category of personnel, instruction, psychological services, legal services, operations and HES & local.

Personnel needs included four special education teachers, two kindergarten paraprofessionals, one elementary paraprofessional and seven float pool staff.

The total estimated cost of these personnel needs, with fringes, is listed as $491,171.

The budgeted increase in legal services, based on current year trend, is $30,000.

Addressing the budget calendar, Carr said the School Board is scheduled to approve the budget at its regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 10.

“And then once that approval goes through, we will take a copy of the budget down to the county administration the next day on March the 11th,” she said.