Alexandria School Board Pay Could Rise to $43K

Board members would see the first raise to $28,000 in 2028 if the December 3 vote passes.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Administration

Isometric editorial illustration of a brass school bell on a plain wooden table beside a stack of four gold coins rising in height, against a cream wall. — Alexandria City School Board members would see their pay rise from $15,000 to $28,000 in 2028, reaching $43,000 by 2031, if the board approves the plan on December 3. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should local school board members be paid significantly more to attract candidates?

The Alexandria City School Board has proposed raising its members' annual salary from $15,000 to $43,000, with the first increase to $28,000 starting January 1, 2028. The board is scheduled to vote on the resolution on December 3, and any raise would take effect after the November 2027 board election.

Why it matters

The current $15,000 salary has been in place since 2007, and the board says higher pay would help recruit more competitive candidates for School Board seats. Because Virginia law only permits school board raises in the year before an election, the timing of any approved increase is tied to the 2027 cycle.

The proposed resolution would add 15% extra pay for the vice chair and 30% for the chair, with $5,000 annual increases each July 1 until reaching $43,000. The 2024 School Board election saw nine candidates run unopposed for nine seats, a figure the board cites as a reason for the proposal.

The players

Alexandria City School Board

The elected body that oversees Alexandria City Public Schools and is proposing the salary increase for its members.

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)

The city's public school district, which faces a projected $17 million budget shortfall and provided staff updates on the proposal.

The details

The resolution would set member pay at $28,000 starting January 1, 2028, then add $5,000 every July 1 until it reaches $43,000 in the 2031 fiscal year. Vice chairs would receive an additional 15% and chairs an additional 30% on top of base pay. Board members would only be able to approve this under Virginia's rule that school boards may raise pay only the year before an election, which is why the increase is scheduled to begin after the November 2027 election. ACPS staff gave the board an update on the proposal, and the board's stated reasoning is that more competitive elections would likely produce higher-quality members.

2007: School Board salary was set at $15,000, where it remains today.
2024: Nine candidates ran unopposed for nine School Board seats in the last election.
November 6, 2026: ACPS staff gave the board an update on the proposed resolution.
December 3, 2026: The School Board is scheduled to vote on the salary resolution.
January 1, 2028: The first proposed salary increase, to $28,000, would take effect if approved.

The Home Front

Virginia's rule that school boards can raise pay only in the year before an election shapes the timing of this proposal. Neighboring Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun county school boards already pay members between $28,565 and $51,500, which frames Alexandria's current $15,000 as an outlier.

If you live in Alexandria, the vote on December 3 is the next point where this proposal could move forward, so it is worth watching the board's agenda. Families who want to weigh in on school governance can attend the meeting or contact the board before the vote.

The takeaway

Board pay is a governance question that shapes who runs for school board, and the December 3 vote is the decision point. Keep the board's meeting schedule on hand if you want to follow the outcome.