School employee pay hike; School board says yes, commissioners to have say so

By Eddie West

Staff Writer

An anticipated 10 percent pay increase for all board of education employees has cleared the first in a series of hurdles.

The same holds true for a proposal to provide health insurance for non-certified employees of the board of education which has also passed an initial step.

During this month’s meeting, the county’s school board unanimously approved funding for both to be included in its proposed 2024-2025 fiscal year budget.

No specific costs for the ten percent raise and added health insurance coverage which will be provided annually was discussed but it will require a considerable increase in funding from the board of education’s surplus funds. Certified employees already receive health insurance coverage.

It was the first in a weeks long, four-step approval process for the two measures.

 Ultimately, the county commission will have the final say so on the two proposals.

The next step will be for the school board to approve the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget which will include the ten percent increase in pay and insurance for non-certified board of education employees. Currently, the upcoming fiscal year budget is a work in progress. 

Because of surplus funds which has been noted as being over $10 million, school board members shouldn’t have any major issue in formalizing and approving next year’s budget.

As is customary, the school board’s proposed fiscal year budget will next be presented for approval to the county commission’s Budget and Finance Committee with the two increases included.

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