Albemarle school board raises member pay to $16,249.20, boosts chair and vice chair stipends

The Albemarle County School Board voted June 12 to raise annual school board pay to $16,249.20 and to increase the chair and vice chair stipends to $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, a change board members said is intended to broaden the pool of people who can serve.

The board approved the change by roll call after a public hearing and a staff presentation on comparative compensation. Dan Redding of Human Resources said the current salary is “$7,915 per year. That's paid out in biweekly installments of $304.42,” and noted that the division's adopted market benchmark was the 60th percentile of a 15-division comparison group.

Board members framed the increase as a recruitment and equity measure. “It would be very hard for someone who didn't have the amount of privilege that I have to serve in a role like this,” said Board Member Lee, arguing that pay helps attract more diverse candidates. Several members also said the daily and evening time demands — school visits, committee meetings and constituent work — justify raising compensation.

Two members of the public addressed the board during the required public hearing. Mary McIntyre said the board should have waited until after public comment to debate pay and urged restraint, warning that a maximum increase would feel “out of step” in a year that saw staff layoffs and program cuts. “If you choose to raise your salaries to the maximum allowable, you will be giving yourselves approximately a 64% raise, if my math is correct,” McIntyre said. Heidi Gillman Bennett said she supports higher pay to make service feasible for people who must work full time but urged timing the change to avoid negative optics during budget pressure.

After discussion the board adopted a motion to set compensation “in line with our Albemarle County 60th percentile market basket,” which the motion text sets at $16,249.20, and to set the chair stipend at $2,000 and the vice chair stipend at $1,000. The motion was made by Dr. Berlin, seconded by Miss Lee. Roll-call voting recorded Yes from Ellen Osborne, Miss Lee, Dr. Rebecca Berlin, Graham Page and Chair Kate Acuff; No from Miss Pryor; Miss Bowman was recorded absent. The board clerk recorded the tally as five yes, one no, zero abstentions; the motion carries.

Board members and staff clarified implementation timing and process. Redding and counsel said changes adopted under the cited statutes must be voted in the May–June window to take effect the following fiscal cycle; the board noted any approved change cannot be effective until January of the next year. Redding also summarized two statutory methods the board may use to set compensation going forward: (1) setting a specific salary requiring an affirmative vote each year to raise it above a statutory cap, and (2) adopting a salary within a capped range (not to exceed $13,000) with automatic annual adjustments up to 5% after a public hearing.

The board's action applies to the 2025–26 fiscal year and amends its compensation policy as described in the motion. The board did not change any other elements of its compensation or benefits package during the meeting.