Pender County Schools previews budget pressures as state projections cut positions and central office allotment
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Summary
Finance staff updated the board on state budget projections that could reduce staffing — including eight teaching positions and a 5% cut to the central office allotment — and presented a first-pass local budget request that includes pay increases, new teaching and support positions and a $7 million capital outlay ask.
Pender County Schools finance staff told the Board of Education Committee of the Whole that state budget projections and enrollment declines will reduce next year’s state allotments and force local trade-offs.
The presentation outlined possible state action in the Senate bill: a 1.25% across‑the‑board raise for staff, roughly 2.3% for teachers as an average starting point across experience bands, and a $1,500 bonus paid over the two‑year biennium. The district’s planning allotments show a projected loss of eight teaching positions tied to a decline in average daily membership (ADM), concentrated in kindergarten, and an estimated 5% reduction in the central office allotment, roughly $40,000 for the district.
Why it matters: the district said the central office allotment pays portions of superintendent and director salaries and maintenance costs; a 5% cut would have to be absorbed locally because no state or federal funding sources cover those positions. Losing eight teachers and low‑wealth allotment reductions (about $500,000 this cycle) would directly affect school staffing and program capacity.
Budget staff described the local budget request they will present to county commissioners on May 1. The draft local ask includes: a 1% increase for certified and classified staff (the board previously signaled support), advanced teaching roles, five additional STEM/STEAM/art teaching positions, two assistant principals for high‑need schools, a student support teaching position, and 6.5 receptionist positions districtwide for school front‑office coverage. Staff said the first proposed increase to maintain current services totals about $2,300,000 (to cover retirement and health cost increases and a modeled 3.8% inflationary adjustment). An additional $2,000,000 in prioritized items is identified separately to allow county leaders to pick and choose if full funding is not available.
The capital outlay/CIP request presented is a multi‑year plan. Staff said they will submit a first‑year request within a larger $7.0 million ask (a multi‑year list that was expanded from a prior $2.9 million baseline) and emphasized the request is a living document that will be refined.
Board members asked for time to review the draft local request and to continue dialog with county officials. Finance staff said they had met principals about potential position losses and are prioritizing classroom positions where possible.
Ending: staff encouraged board feedback before the May 1 county presentation and said they will bring the finalized local budget request back to the board for approval at the next meeting. No formal board action on the budget requests was recorded during the Committee meeting.