Guilford County school staff press board during budget public hearing; board approves 2025–26 funding request to commissioners

The Guilford County Board of Education opened a public hearing on the superintendent—s proposed budget and heard more than two hours of public comment focused largely on employee pay, staff shortages and building maintenance before voting to approve the district—s 2025–26 funding request to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

Many speakers at the April public hearing — custodians, cafeteria managers, teachers and union representatives — urged the board to seek additional local revenue to raise pay for classified staff and mid-career teachers. Joanna Pendleton, president of the Guilford County Association of Educators, urged the board to ask commissioners for more funds and suggested a property tax increase that would cost the average homeowner about $5 per month: "We can't choose to let our students pay the price for this shortfall," she said.

Why it matters: speakers said continued underfunding is forcing employees to take second jobs, leaving critical positions unfilled and causing service interruptions at schools with urgent maintenance needs. Multiple parents and staff highlighted Page High School as an example of ongoing facility problems — leaks, inadequate cafeteria capacity and partial HVAC failures — and asked the board for a clear long-term plan if a full replacement is not scheduled.

Public testimony and board response Most public testimony focused on compensation and retention. Cafeteria manager Rondisha Wallace described staff who cannot afford to attend funerals because of pay constraints and directly asked the board for "steps, grades, and a livable wage." Teachers and instructional assistants described being paid at frozen salary steps and working second jobs. Amy Harrison, a special education teacher and local union treasurer, said she had not received a state pay raise larger than $80 in a single year since 2015 and called on the board to prioritize supplement funding that helps experienced staff.

Several speakers also urged the board to press Guilford County commissioners for additional revenue, including a proposed two-cent property tax increase discussed publicly by advocates as one possible source of local funds to close an estimated county-district gap. Board members and the superintendent acknowledged the county and state funding constraints repeatedly raised by speakers and reiterated that the district must balance long-term capital work with immediate maintenance and personnel needs.

Board action and votes After the public hearing and regular agenda debate, the board voted to approve and forward the district—s 2025–26 funding request to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. The motion passed with eight votes in favor and one opposed (Deborah). The board previously approved other consent items and opened and closed the budget public hearing by recorded voice votes earlier in the meeting.

What the board approved: the formal motion approved at the meeting forwarded the superintendent—s funding request package to county commissioners for consideration; the district—s request included personnel, program and capital priorities as outlined in the superintendent—s budget documents presented at the hearing. The motion did not itself change tax rates or appropriate county funds; those decisions rest with the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

Context and next steps Speakers, several board members, and the superintendent called for continued advocacy to county and state officials. Board members said they will present the approved request to the commissioners and continue conversations about revenue options and priorities. The county budget process will determine whether the board—s request is funded, partially funded or deferred.

Ending note: the public hearing made visible the staff-level effects of ongoing funding constraints — from custodial and nutrition staffing to HVAC reliability — and the board—s vote forwarded the district—s funding priorities to the county for final consideration.