Granville County Board adopts letter urging legislature to raise teacher pay, restore master’s supplements

The Granville County Board of Education voted to send a letter to the North Carolina General Assembly backing higher starting teacher pay and the restoration of master's-degree supplements.

Board Member Danielle Hayes, who leads the board's legislative committee, told the board the committee's resolutions and letters have already influenced several state proposals and that the new letter asks lawmakers to adopt proposed increases included in the House budget draft. “We've proven that even a single school board can make a statewide impact when we lead with unity, clarity, and purpose,” Hayes said during her update.

Hayes summarized recent state-level proposals she said reflect board advocacy: House Bill 106 (changes to retired-educator rehire rules), House Bill 239 (additional funding for exceptional-children services), transfer of the Center for Safer Schools via session law 2024-57, changes to ESL exit criteria for 2024–25, and a House budget proposal that she said would raise starting teacher pay and restore master's supplements. Hayes said the House proposal would raise the starting salary from $41,000 to $48,000 over the biennium and reinstate master’s-degree supplements, allowing Granville County to better recruit and retain teachers.

Board Member Gwen Russell moved to adopt the letter and Board Member Katrina Burton Waters seconded. The board approved the motion by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. The board instructed staff to send the adopted letter to the North Carolina General Assembly.

Why it matters: Hayes framed the action as part of a broader, sustained advocacy campaign the board began in 2024. She told the board the changes, if enacted, would directly affect Granville County Schools’ staffing and budget needs by making it easier to rehire retired teachers, increase funding for special education, and incentivize teachers with advanced degrees.

What the board did not decide tonight: The board approved only the letter of advocacy. The board did not approve any local salary increases or commit district funds; any pay changes require state action and later local budget adjustments if enacted.

The board adopted the letter by motion and directed staff to forward it to the General Assembly. No further formal actions were tied to the letter at the meeting.