Loudoun County Public Schools Close Monday Due to Severe Ice—What Parents Need to Know

With winter weather, fresh leadership and a multibillion-dollar spending plan converging, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) is kicking off 2026 with decisions that will shape classrooms, payrolls and bus routes for years to come. Budget at a glance Superintendent Aaron Spence’s proposed $1.88 billion operating budget for 2026-27 asks the Board of Supervisors for a 5.6 percent local-funding increase to cover rising health-care premiums, a 3 percent average pay bump and 287 new positions, most in special education and English-learner support. If approved, the plan would keep class sizes flat while expanding pre-K slots and career-tech internships. Enrollment slide continues After adding 40,000 students in the previous decade, LCPS now projects a third straight annual dip—down to 80,201 students by September, a 0.3 percent year-over-year decline driven by housing costs and slowing birth rates. The enrollment plateau is prompting the district to pause two planned elementary schools and redirect construction money to HVAC and security upgrades. New board, new priorities The first meeting of 2026 opened with the swearing-in of three new school board members—Jeff Morse (Dulles), Erika Ogedegbe (Leesburg) and Tom Marshall (Broad Run)—who campaigned on academic recovery and transparency. Early signals suggest a consensus to scrutinize central-office growth while protecting teacher raises. Weather closures test calendars January’s back-to-back ice storms forced LCPS to close buildings on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29, converting the days to remote teacher workdays and pushing the last day of school to June 16 if more snow days are taken. Transportation staff logged 90 downed-tree reports, and maintenance crews spread 550 tons of salt in 48 hours. What’s next • Feb 11: Public hearing on the operating budget at the LCPS Administration Building, 6 p.m. • Feb 25: Board vote on the FY 27 Capital Improvement Program. • March 4: Kindergarten registration opens division-wide. Why it matters LCPS remains Virginia’s fastest-growing large district despite the recent taper, and Loudoun’s robust tax base funds one of the state’s top teacher pay scales. Decisions made this quarter will dictate whether the county sustains competitive salaries, addresses deferred maintenance and meets parents’ expectations for smaller classes and expanded mental-health services.