Board approves multiple committee recommendations, raises classified supplement to 4%

The Cleveland County Board of Education on Jan. 13 approved a series of committee recommendations covering finance, personnel, operations and educational policy, including a one-point increase to the classified employee supplement.

The board voted to raise the classified employee supplement from 3% to 4% (motion from the finance committee). The motion carried by unanimous voice vote, recorded as 8 to 0. Superintendent Steven Fisher explained the change and said classified employees will receive a larger supplement in the spring because prior payments had been split between fall and spring.

Other committee recommendations approved without extended discussion included the beginning teacher support plan (approved 8 to 0), the personnel report (8 to 0), and a set of policy updates that were grouped and approved together. Policies approved in the bundled vote included 1310/4002 (parental involvement), 3410 (testing and assessment), 3420 and 3420-R2 (promotion and local promotion standards), 8305 (federal grant…