Loudoun County Approves $1.96B School Budget Amid DEIA Debate

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — The Loudoun County School Board on Tuesday approved a $1.96 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, marking a 7.2% increase over the current year. The budget, proposed by Superintendent Aaron Spence, includes significant investments in staff compensation, athletic trainers, and tutoring programs, while sparking heated debate over funding for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives.

The budget allocates $99.1 million for staff compensation, with an average 6.5% salary increase for full-time employees. It also adds 11 athletic trainers, four school nurses, and reallocates $500,000 from online to in-person tutoring. The board unanimously approved expanding the International Baccalaureate program to Park View High School and hiring a summer and after-school program coordinator.

However, the meeting was marked by controversy when board member Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) proposed defunding the DEIA division, citing concerns over potential federal funding losses due to President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI programs. Griffiths argued that the $2.8 million allocated for DEIA could be better spent hiring 23 special education teachers and funding extracurricular activities.

“I think that if we had the data from LCPS that told us exactly how it’s been helping our students, that would help a little bit more, but we do not have data,” Griffiths said. “At this time, I think we’re jeopardizing potential funding for LCPS that could affect Title One schools.”

Her motion failed 2-7, with only board member Kari LaBell (Catoctin) supporting it. Other board members defended DEIA programs, emphasizing their role in fostering inclusivity and academic success. “At its core, DEI is about ensuring that every child, regardless of race, background, ability, or identity, has the opportunity to succeed,” said Linda Deans (Broad Run).

Superintendent Spence also pushed back against claims that DEIA programs risk federal funding. “Our DEI efforts are firmly rooted in compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination laws,” he said. “Research consistently shows that when students feel a sense of belonging, their academic success and overall well-being improve.”

The approved budget includes a $456,172 spending increase, offset by using surplus funds from fiscal year 2025. It now moves to the Board of Supervisors for review, with County Administrator Tim Hemstreet set to present recommendations next week.