The Gloucester County School Board adopted Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anthony Vladu’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 totaling $83,530,279 during its joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors Tuesday night in the T.C. Walker Education Center auditorium.
The school board also named Fred Brewer of Hayes, to serve as an interim member, filling an at-large seat that was vacated by Deborah McDonough last month.
The new $83.5 million budget, first presented as a budget of $77.5 million and then $81.9 million, now includes a local request of an additional $2 million. In previous presentations, Vladu recommended a local fund increase of $495,729.
County Administrator Carol Steele presented her proposed budget for FY26 to board of supervisors members Monday night and stated that she was recommended providing the schools with level funding of approximately $30.4 million (see related story). However, she did mention in her presentation that Vladu had requested the additional $495,729 from the county.
New investments at Tuesday night’s meeting included a textbook adoption of $400,000 and student device replacements at a cost of $526,420. The previously recommended grant writer position ($84,885) was cut from Tuesday night’s budget presentation.
In the new presentation, expenditure priorities for the district included the following categories, instruction and academic achievement ($4,354,786); efficiency of operations, fiscal responsibility, transportation, and human resources ($780,000); safe schools and secure transportation ($30,958); and promoting mental health and wellness ($382,825), totaling over $5.5 million. During last week’s budget presentation, these expenditures totaled a little over $4 million.
In budgetary changes, previous expenditures included instruction and academic achievement ($314,474), efficiency of operations, fiscal responsibility, transportation and human resources ($3,278,957).
Gov. Glenn Youngkin still has vetoing power, so the state contribution to the schools (currently recommended at $43.3 million) could change when the General Assembly reconvenes.
Interim appointment
Brewer will serve in his role as the interim at-large school board member through Dec. 31. He was previously a candidate for the position two years ago when the seat was first vacated by Kellie Lockerby.
From 2000-2012, Brewer served on the Hampton City School Board and was selected as chair for five of those years. He has served as a board member for the Gloucester Educational Foundation since last April and has resided in Gloucester since 2019.
“If appointed to this important role in the community,” Brewer stated in his letter of interest to the school board, “my goal is to work in the spirit of collegiality and professionalism alongside fellow board members and with our superintendent of schools. Our shared goal: to assure the best possible educational experience for our children, while being good stewards of the taxpayers’ money.”