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School board adopts FY26 budget with 3% pay increases, added nurses and classroom positions
Summary
The Caroline County School Board adopted the FY26 operational budget June 11 that funds a 3% across‑the‑board pay increase (inclusive of step), five skilled LPNs for exceptional education support, multiple instructional hires and scale adjustments for support staff.
The Caroline County School Board voted June 11 to adopt the Fiscal Year 2026 operational budget, which the division said includes a 3% salary increase for all employees (inclusive of step), scale adjustments for paraprofessionals, custodians and food‑service staff, funding for five skilled LPNs and several classroom and administrative positions.
Budget staff described the context: state budget actions (SOQ adjustments and a 3% SOQ compensation increase), changes in the local composite index and the district’s strategic plan priorities. The division said it had targeted people over things based on stakeholder input and that county contributions plus state funds allowed the district to fund the listed priorities.
Key additions listed by the division included: a 3% cost for all employees (division cost stated as about $1.35 million), a $1.05 million scale enhancement raising starting pay for certain support roles (e.g., instructional assistants, custodians, food service technicians), funding for five skilled nurses to support intensive medical needs, three instructional aides and a teacher for a low‑incidence special‑education classroom at Madison, four building case managers, two counselor conversions and a half‑time counselor for Bowling Green, reading coach and innovation specialist funded locally, and technology/capital items for classroom and staff devices.
The budget presentation noted the expiration of pandemic special funds and that some positions initially funded by grants (All In, Title I) were moved to local funding to maintain them. The board approved the budget by voice vote.
Board members discussed long‑term salary scale ideas and the local composite index timing; staff said LCI updates tied to state data will appear with the introduced 2027 budget and that the FY26 budget had been appropriated by the county.
