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New Hanover County Schools board weighs modest stipend increase, considers internal cuts
Summary
Board members debated reallocating roughly $21,000 from board operating line items to raise stipends and discussed asking the county for a cost-of-living increase; a motion to reallocate specific line items was proposed and then tabled for further review next week.
The New Hanover County Schools Board of Education debated whether to reallocate existing board budget lines and seek a small cost-of-living increase from the county to raise board member stipends.
Board member Pat Bradford proposed shifting funds from several internal line items to increase the annual stipend, saying, “I've identified with some of those things just under $21,000 that we could rearrange and slide up into item number 2.” The proposal listed specific targets: $5,000 from contracted services, $7,400 from workshop expenses, $500 from each board member's travel reimbursement, $400 in supplies and $46.50 from software and supplies, and taking half of the board's food purchases. Bradford said the changes would allow a modest stipend increase and that any larger request could be presented to the county separately.
Board members discussed the optics and equity of raising stipends. Dr. Tim Merrick argued the county could reallocate its own revenue to support the board, saying, “We could give you at least a modicum of a raise, right?” Several members noted the board's schedule and workload, the long interval since the last stipend raise (the transcript notes the last raise was in 02/2018), and differences between the board's stipend and county commissioner pay.
Board members and staff identified potential internal savings and negotiation points. They reviewed recurring costs such as online policy hosting (listed on the handout as web hosting and related policy update fees) and discussed the possibility of renegotiating vendor rates (membership and hosting are billed on an ADM basis and typically require 60 days' notice to alter). A staff member said the board could start renegotiation conversations but noted vendor flexibility is uncertain.
Bradford moved to implement the specific reallocations listed above and to ask the county for an additional 3% cost-of-living increase; the board discussed the motion and asked staff to prepare comparative options (including converting mileage reimbursements to a fixed travel stipend). The maker indicated she would table the motion for one week to allow additional analysis and to bring the item back at agenda review.
The board did not take a final vote on stipend increases at this meeting. Members asked staff to return with clarified dollar figures, negotiations status with vendors, and whether proposed internal savings were one-time or recurring before any formal change was adopted.
The discussion concluded with members emphasizing two parallel approaches: (1) pursue internal savings and (2) separately request a modest county-funded cost-of-living increase, while ensuring that any increase would not reduce funding available for schools.
The board then moved on to the operating and capital budget presentations.
