City schools anticipate $5.7M funding boost, trimming 16 jobs from revised budget
Plus, Newport News business resources; cleanup volunteers needed; NNPD promotion ceremony
Newport News Public Schools is scheduled to present an amended operating budget for the 2027 fiscal year, known as FY2027, to the School Board at a meeting on August 4, 2026. The update is part of the district’s long-term strategic plan, called Elevate 2030. According to presentation materials prepared for the meeting, the changes touch several areas of the budget. Staff would see a bigger raise than originally planned, the district would reduce the number of planned staff positions, and it would lower its student enrollment estimate. At the same time, the district expects more state and local funding than it had projected earlier in the year.
Key changes outlined in the amended budget include:
Additional state funding: $3.6 million, and additional local funding: $2.1 million. These figures appear to reflect funding added since the city adopted its own budget, based on the gap between those earlier figures and the district’s revised totals, though the source material does not explicitly state this baseline. These amounts are separate from the year-over-year revenue comparison described further below.
Planned staffing reduced by 16 full-time positions: 5 school-based student success specialists, 5 family and community engagement specialists, and 6 student support specialists. It is not confirmed whether this reflects job cuts or the removal of unfilled, budgeted vacancies.
Projected enrollment lowered by 370 students, from 23,870 to 23,500
Textbook fund increased by $5.8 million, to cover new K-12 math and secondary English materials
Child nutrition services fund, which supports school meal programs, increased by $881,000, entirely to cover a 4 percent pay increase for that fund’s staff
Presentation materials frame compensation as central to efforts to attract and retain staff. Approved changes included the 4 percent general salary increase, along with $1,000 increases to starting pay for both classroom teachers and associate teachers. The materials also cite two additional measures: sign-on bonuses for positions the district considers hard to fill, and a $1,500 retention bonus for full-time contracted employees. The district says it aims to keep pay competitive across all staff roles more broadly.
The compensation and staffing changes are accompanied by updated revenue projections set to go before the board. The district’s materials show total revenue revised upward for the coming fiscal year, driven mainly by higher-than-previously-expected state funding, with a smaller boost from city funding as well. Federal and other revenue sources are expected to remain unchanged. Three planning documents produced different estimates for city funding along the way: the School Board’s original FY2027 budget and the city’s own adopted budget did not fully agree on how much city funding to expect, though both used the same estimate for state funding. The newest city revenue figure, included in materials for this week’s meeting, falls between those two earlier estimates.
Separately, the School Board’s officially adopted funds for FY2027 total $467,848,950. This total covers more than the day-to-day operating revenue described above: it also includes the district’s textbook, workers’ compensation, and child nutrition funds, which are budgeted separately from general operating revenue. The breakdown is as follows:
General fund: $429,675,007
Textbook fund: $8,495,432
Workers’ compensation fund: $2,122,830
Child nutrition services fund: $27,555,681
In other news:
Business
Ferguson Home participates in design industry panel discussion Ferguson Home joined design industry leaders for a panel discussion this summer at the A&D Building’s Market Day in New York City, according to Ferguson. The panel discussed how technology, lighting, and daily routines shape wellness-focused kitchen and bathroom design, including AI-generated renderings as a visualization tool, color-changing lighting technology, and design choices intended to support daily routines and personal wellness in the home.
City updates information on business incentive and financing programs The City of Newport News recently updated information on multiple programs available to support local businesses, including:
A range of business incentive programs, including tax abatements, Enterprise Zones, Opportunity Zones, and HUBZones, designed to attract and support business investment, reports the Department of Development.
The HUBZone program, which provides federal contracting opportunities for small businesses in underutilized zones, requiring 51% U.S. ownership and 35% HUBZone-based staff, the city notes.
The Peninsula Revolving Loan Fund, offering up to $150,000 for qualified businesses struggling to secure traditional financing, with rates 4% below Treasury Notes, the city reports.
Tax-exempt and taxable industrial revenue bonds financing fixed assets over $1,000,000, with tax-exempt rates typically 75 basis points below prime, the city reminds businesses.
The Urban Development Action Grant Loan Program, offering up to $250,000 for businesses creating jobs for low and moderate income residents, with rates from 4% to 7%, the city reports.
An e-Commerce Grant Program offering up to $2,500, or $4,500 for women- and minority-owned businesses, to support website development, marketing, and online sales growth, the Economic Development Authority announces.
The Facade Improvement Grant program, offering matching funds up to $20,000 for commercial property exterior upgrades, including awnings, lighting, and hardscaping, the Development Department reports.
The Capital Fund Loan Program, offering up to $250,000 at rates 4% below prime, requiring $1 in private funding per $1 financed, the city announces.
The Micro Loan Program, offering $2,000 to $25,000 for small businesses and startups, with fixed rates of 7-8% for working capital or equipment purchases, the city reports.
An interactive website, YesNewportNews.com, is available to guide prospective business owners through starting a business in Newport News.
Community & Services
Newport News Green Foundation seeks volunteers for green space cleanups The Newport News Green Foundation is seeking volunteers to help clean up green spaces around the city, with an open shift available at the Aberthaw Lot (9941 Jefferson Ave.). Interested volunteers can register through the organization to sign up for available dates. Contact: Jillian Balay, jillian@nngreen.com.
Public Safety
Newport News Police Department holds 2026 promotion ceremony The Newport News Police Department held its 2026 promotion ceremony on July 17, honoring officers advancing in rank, including several sergeants, two lieutenants, and one captain. Chief Steve Drew and other city leaders spoke on leadership and community service. Each promoted officer was recognized individually for their career history and service records within the department.
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