Roanoke City Schools Cut 148 Jobs After Budget Shortfall

Roanoke City Public Schools cut 148 positions ahead of the school year after projecting about 170 cuts to close a $14 million fiscal year 2027 deficit, division officials confirmed.

Sixty-four of the eliminated roles were teachers across all 24 schools. About 21 central-office posts were cut, along with custodians and other support jobs. Sixty-six of the eliminated positions were filled when cut; the rest were vacant. By Aug. 20, 13 employees had been recalled into other openings.

William Fleming High School lost nine teaching positions among 14 total cuts, and Round Hill Elementary lost six teachers among 10 cuts, according to data obtained under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Some smaller schools shared assistant principals or elective teachers to stay within Standards of Quality staffing rules.

Superintendent Verletta White said leaders tried to protect classrooms even as central support shrank. Spokesperson Claire Mitzel said cuts of this scale have not occurred since the 2008 recession and followed a city funding-formula change that reduced schools' share of local tax-revenue growth.

On the first day of school the division still reported 127 vacancies, including 51 administrative or professional roles and 76 classified posts.

• Email City Council of Roanoke:
  Joseph Cobb: joseph.cobb@roanokeva.gov,
  Terry McGuire: terry.mcguire@roanokeva.gov,
  Nicolas Hagen: nick.hagen@roanokeva.gov,
  Phazhon Nash: phazhon.nash@roanokeva.gov,
  Vivian Sanchez-Jones: vivian.sanchez-jones@roanokeva.gov,
  Peter Volosin: peter.volosin@roanokeva.gov,
  Evelyn Powers: evelyn.w.powers@roanokeva.gov