The Alexandria School Board is asking City Council to give them $142,887,486 to run the city's 18 public schools next year, a 3.9 percent increase over last year.
"This budget implements the Board's commitment to an excellent public education for all of Alexandria's public school students," said Mark R. Eaton, School Board chair. "I am particularly pleased that Superintendent Perry and her staff, our teachers, and the Board worked together to develop the new salary scale that is reflected in this budget."
The increased compensation will cost $2 million, which includes three additional instructional days and two additional teacher contract days. There is also a pay differential of $9,000 for teachers who have master's degrees.
"The increase in instructional time is designed to directly impact student performance and the accreditation status of our schools," said Superintendent Rebecca L. Perry.
The superintendent's technology initiative was cut from her proposed $1.6 million to lease computers for all high school students to $440,000 to pilot the program at Minnie Howard. There are no other new initiatives.
City Council will hold a work session with the School Board to discuss the budget on April 1.