PETERSBURG, VA (September 16, 2026)— Petersburg City Public Schools is thrilled to announce that on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the Petersburg City Council approved the school division’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget, including Phase I of the school division’s compensation and classification study.

Last night’s budget approval marks a significant milestone for the school division in terms of competitive pay rates. With regard to the compensation and classification study the school division completed during the 2025-2026 school year, Petersburg City Public Schools will now be able to:

• Raise starting licensed teacher salaries to $60,000; and
• Adjust the salary scale for current teachers. 

This historic funding will allow the school division to both recognize the dedication and hard work of its educators and continue to attract and retain top talent so that students can receive the best education possible. 

Superintendent Yolonda Brown stated, “We are excited and grateful to the Petersburg City Council for their commitment to fund the compensation and classification salary study for teachers. This is an important step in our work and in support of our Petersburg Forward 2031 five-year strategic plan priority #2, which is Talent Acquisition, Development, and Retention.”

Board Chair Kenneth Pritchett shared, “Last night’s vote represents a historic investment in the educators and students of Petersburg City Public Schools. Establishing a $60,000 starting salary for certified teachers and providing salary increases for all others on the teacher salary scale, strengthens our ability to recruit and retain the highly qualified professionals our children deserve. I want to sincerely thank the Petersburg City Council for partnering with the School Board and demonstrating that supporting our teachers and investing in public education remain priorities for our city. This is a proud and significant moment for Petersburg.” 

Mayor Sam Parham said, “The City of Petersburg is proud to take this important step toward making our school division more competitive across the region. Establishing a $60,000 starting salary for certified teachers and providing raises for our current teachers demonstrate our commitment to attracting talented educators and recognizing those who have faithfully served our students. This funding decision reflects City Council’s belief that a strong public school system is essential to Petersburg’s continued growth and success. By supporting our teachers, we are strengthening our classrooms, our workforce, and our entire community.”

The budget will come back to the School Board during tonight’s Board Meeting for final approval and adoption. 

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Petersburg City Public Schools serves approximately 4,400 students from preschool to adult across nine schools in Petersburg, VA. PCPS is home to 700 staff members who serve the school division community. The mission of Petersburg City Public Schools is to develop and empower students through innovation and collaboration so they demonstrate virtue, good character and make meaningful contributions to society. The vision of Petersburg City Public Schools is to transform and expand opportunities for learning so that every student graduates with a life filled with choices: Enrolled, Enlisted, Employed, or An Entrepreneur.