Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Compensation Equity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board shifts $1.2M from principal supplements to classified pay after community concerns
Summary
Board members said community comments and constituent feedback drove a motion to reallocate $1.2 million from principals' and assistant principals' local supplements to increase classified staff supplements for 2025–26; staff will present updated budget figures to the full board.
The Cumberland County Board of Education committee agreed to change the superintendent’s recommended 2025–26 budget to move $1.2 million from local supplements for principals and assistant principals into classified staff supplements, responding to repeated public comments that lower‑paid classified employees were receiving smaller percentage increases.
Board member Jackie Warner introduced the change. Warner said that, based on conversations with constituents and classified staff, “those that make the most money as far as the salary adjustments...principals and assistant principals…many who are 12 months…[are] getting the smallest, and their salary would be the easiest to adjust.” She urged directing the funds to cafeteria staff, teacher assistants and bus drivers to improve retention.
Budget presenter Jay confirmed the accounting behind the request and the mechanics of the motion: “we had 1,200,000.0 allocated for classified supplements, additional supplements, and then another 1,200,000.0 for assistant principals and principals,” and the motion would move the principal/AP portion into the classified pool.
Several board members said the change was intended to address equity and retention. One member noted the appearance of fairness mattered to employees: “this gives something to everyone, and I think the appearance of that...is as important.” Committee members asked staff to prepare updated budget sheets and to present the budget with the reallocation on the full board’s discussion agenda rather than the consent agenda for transparency.
What the committee did not decide: the final budget remains contingent on the county’s appropriation. Jay told members the district had requested roughly $14 million from the county; if the county provides less (for example $10 million) the same logic would apply but dollar amounts would change and staff would return with revised numbers.
Next steps and implementation: staff were directed to implement the reallocation in the budget documents and produce updated figures for the full board ahead of the final vote. The committee treated the move as a one‑year change that may set a new baseline unless the board revises it in future years.
Quote attribution rule: all direct quotes in this story are taken from committee debate and are attributed to speakers recorded in the meeting transcript.
