Dinwiddie school board approves move to twice‑monthly pay, effective July 2026

The Dinwiddie County School Board voted 3–1 to change the division’s payroll frequency from once a month to twice a month, with the change planned to take effect with the 2026–27 contract year and the first pay date for 12‑month employees on July 15, 2026.

Board members said the change is intended to make the school system more competitive with neighboring employers and address recruitment and retention problems. A staff presenter told the board some candidates decline offers after learning the division pays once a month and that substitutes can wait a month and a half between paychecks.

Staff member Miss Branch outlined the proposed schedule and timeline for implementation. Under the plan, the division would target mid‑month (generally the 15th or the preceding Friday if the 15th falls on a weekend) and month‑end pay dates. Work performed from the first of the month through the mid‑month cutoff would be paid at the month‑end payroll; work performed from mid‑month through the end of the month would be paid on the mid‑month payroll of the following month. For fiscal‑year 2026–27, 12‑month employees would receive their first check under the new system on July 15, 2026; 10‑, 10½‑ and 11‑month employees would receive their year‑end check on July 31, then their first new‑cycle check on Aug. 15.

Branch told the board the division has fielded multiple reports that once‑monthly pay is a deterrent for applicants and that employees increasingly request advances; moving to two paydays, she said, would give employees faster access to earnings and could help recruitment of substitutes and other staff. She described a multi‑month employee outreach plan that includes a January rollout of detailed communications, tax‑withholding guidance, bank partnerships and financial‑literacy workshops; one‑on‑one assistance would be offered between February and June to help staff adjust direct deposit splits and withholding.

Branch and other staff emphasized several implementation details the board asked about: supplemental pay and stipends will be included in the regular paycheck cycle to comply with IRS rules; employees may need to adjust withholding and direct‑deposit splitting so the same monthly totals are deducted across two paychecks; and payroll dates will aim for consistency while shifting to a 24‑pay cycle. Staff recommended a tax workshop to explain how semi‑monthly withholding works and noted that overall annual tax liability should not change but that withholding timing can affect each check.

Board members debated the change. Barbara T. Pittman said she had received many calls from long‑term teachers who objected to the change because their bill schedules are arranged around a once‑monthly pay; she said that concern led her to oppose the motion. Others said the move is aimed at recruiting younger workers and substitutes and reducing a practical barrier candidates cited when declining offers.

The board approved the change on a roll‑call vote recorded in open session. Dr. Elaine J. Pearson recorded an aye; Barbara T. Pittman recorded a nay; Mary M. Benjamin recorded a yes. The presiding officer announced the final tally as 3 in favor and 1 opposed, and the motion carried.

The board asked staff to provide the detailed employee communications and to offer voluntary workshops and bank partnership sessions in the months before the July 2026 go‑live date.

Why it matters: Payroll frequency affects employees’ cash flow and can influence recruitment for hourly, lower‑paid and substitute positions. The board’s implementation plan and outreach aim to reduce disruption while meeting IRS and payroll requirements.

Ending: School officials said they will begin detailed staff outreach and provide assistance on tax withholding and direct‑deposit adjustments beginning in January following board approval.