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• More funding for PEIA premiums
• Lower-than-expected state funding due to decreasing enrollment
• 2022 excess levy funding projects

Those funding projects will remain unchanged for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1, and no school tax increases are coming for property owners.

Staffing holds steady

Kanawha County Schools has the largest public school enrollment in West Virginia — around 23,000 students — but those numbers are steadily dropping, along with the amount of state aid the district receives.

The district’s budget and staffing levels remain stable despite a loss of 336 students this year, due in part to school consolidations.

In last year’s budget, the district reported receiving $196 million in state aid. This year, that figure is projected to increase slightly to approximately $198 million, bolstered by additional funding from the , which has provided new aides in classrooms over the past two years to improve literacy.

“We’re receiving some additional state aid funding to add some third-grade classroom aids,� Meadows said. “So our bottom line is increased, but we’re still losing kids ... and state aid.�

Enrollment decline

Board President Ric Cavender said he appreciates how fiscally responsible KCS staff has been with budget plans. He also acknowledged the enrollment decline mirrors the statewide numbers.

“It’s disappointing to see our population continue to decline,� he said. “We’re the largest county in the state, so obviously because of that were probably going to feel that a little more than other counties.�

The district estimates the enrollment decline has resulted in a $721,057 funding loss. Thirty-two staff cuts would have followed, but recent consolidations — such as those involving McKinley and East Bank Middle schools — offset the budget impact. No additional staffing reductions are planned.

“If we weren’t losing students, we wouldn’t have to keep considering consolidations,� Meadows said. “Because we’re losing that state aid on the back side, we can’t continue to operate as many facilities. If you think about it, the more you consolidate, the fewer cooks, principals, and custodians [you need]. All of those things tie into the fact we’re losing students.�

In a March presentation to the Kanawha BOE, Meadows also explained that enrollment has been in decline for more than a decade.

“That’s due to several things,� Meadows noted. “People are having fewer children, more people are moving out of the county and state, plus people are using the and also going to charter schools.�

Charter school enrollment from the district increased from 115 to 194 students, and around 400 new students registered for homeschooling. However, not all enrollment losses are tied to alternative education paths that reduce funding—some students enrolled in the district’s virtual program, which still counts toward enrollment totals.

Expenses and cost drivers

While utility costs in the district’s buildings have remained stable thanks to energy-efficient upgrades and school consolidations, other expenses have increased significantly.

For example, the district’s contribution to the Public Employees Insurance Agency will rise by $2.2 million this year, due to a statewide 14% increase.

“That’s a big increase,� Meadows said.

Levy-funded improvements

Regular and excess levy rates will remain unchanged this year. The , now in its second year, was approved by voters in 2022 with fixed rates locked in for its five-year term.

The proposed budget includes allocations tied to excess levy funding, including:

• $12 million for HVAC and roofing improvements
• $8 million for extracurricular programs, including turf fields and playground renovations
• $3 million for safety and security upgrades

There has been some discourse at board meetings about levy-funded projects over the past year, including the implementation of weapons detection systems. After a trial run at Riverside High School failed, KCS returned $826,000 in equipment belonging the Athena Security and ended up paying nothing for the experience.

Officials indicated at the March 18 BOE meeting that safety features like security wands and upgraded surveillance are currently being researched. KCS does not have a current timeline for when any changes will occur.

What’s next

Meadows noted that because school budgets are reviewed annually, there are currently no long-term safeguards in place to protect against future enrollment drops.

However, despite enrollment decline, Meadows said she believes the district remains in a good financial position to educate students.

The proposed budget must still be approved by the state school superintendent before being adopted by KCS.