Henrico Schools superintendent to introduce 2026-27 budget Jan. 22

Henrico Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell will introduce her recommended HCPS budget for the 2026-2027 school year at a school board meeting at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

HCPS families and community members will have the chance to comment on the recommended budget at a public hearing at 5 p.m. on Feb. 12. The school board will adopt a budget on Feb. 26, and the Henrico Board of Supervisors will make a final determination on the funding level this spring.

Last year, the school board passed a $944 million budget, including a 6% salary increase for all returning full-time employees and salary increase of up to 19% for certain support staff.

HCPS staff will also give an update on the division’s Opportunity Schools initiative, which was launched in 2023 to bring additional staff and staffing incentives to schools with high teacher vacancy rates. During the past year, HCPS has increased annual bonuses for teachers at Opportunity Schools to $3,500 and added two new schools – Brookland Middle and Harold Macon Ratcliffe Elementary – to the initiative.

Divisionwide teacher vacancy rates have decreased from 7% during the 2022-2023 school year to 4% this school year, and the number of provisionally-licensed teachers have decreased by 1%. HCPS has proposed extending the number of minimum years a school is designated as an Opportunity School from three years to four years.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to speak to the school board at an in-person public forum at the 6:30 p.m. board meeting later on Thursday.

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s government and education reporter. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.