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CFO outlines December finances; HR proposes international recruitment and virtual-teacher options for hard-to-fill positions
Summary
The district CFO reported December preliminary finances and a budget calendar for FY26; the HR chief recommended contracts for international teacher recruitment and for Elevate K12 virtual instruction to cover hard-to-fill positions, with cost estimates.
The Rockdale County Board of Education received a preliminary financial report for December and a presentation on the FY26 budget calendar, and the district's human resources chief proposed several staffing strategies for hard-to-fill positions.
The Chief Financial Officer reported December revenues of $85,400,000 and year-to-date revenues of $151,000,000, representing 69.2% of the adopted budget. Year-to-date expenditures were $107,800,000, or about 48.6% of budget; encumbrances totaled $2,073,362. The CFO noted the district's current fund balance at $71,810,355 and cautioned that reliable revenue projections typically arrive at the end of March or in April, a factor that affects the tentative budget timetable.
The FY26 budget calendar calls for earlier-than-usual deadlines: schools and departments must submit budget requests by Jan. 24, 2025, with the district emphasizing zero-based budgeting to scrutinize non-salary expenditures and new position requests. The CFO said the process will include a budget committee (superintendent, cabinet and principal representatives), followed by board finance committee meetings with the board and public input before tentative and final adoption.
Michelle Stevens, Chief Human Resources Officer, presented staffing allotments and three action-item recommendations for addressing hard-to-fill positions: - International recruitment through Intellodge: renewal to supply hard-to-fill positions (31 teachers) with a current cost estimate of $232,500; Stevens said Intellodge teachers typically hold J-1 visas and can remain 3'5 years. - International recruitment through Educational Infotech International Resources (EITIR): a second agency with a minimum cost of $49,900 for six teachers and a potential maximum of about $96,000 if additional hires are added. - Elevate K12 synchronous virtual instruction: use live, Georgia-certified teachers delivered remotely to classrooms supported by a district paraprofessional. Stevens presented a minimum financial impact of $509,817 and a not-to-exceed figure of $835,917 (figures based on multiple scenarios and an existing partner discount).
Stevens described supports for internationally recruited teachers: agency screening, virtual interviews, assistance with Georgia certification, visa sponsorship and induction programs; principals reported high retention and preference for the international hires versus long-term substitutes. For Elevate K12, the district indicated principals would use point allotments to fund the positions and would review the virtual-teaching option each semester.
Board members asked several procedural and fiscal questions about timing, whether virtual services could be terminated if an in-person hire became available and how principals are trained to produce meaningful school-level budgets. The CFO said training is in place and additional sessions are offered for principals who need support.
Board members later moved the cabinet's action items onto the consent agenda for the upcoming regular session: motion to place action items on the consent agenda was moved by Heather Duncan and seconded by Akita Palmer and approved by the board.
No final contract approvals were made during the work session; the HR recommendations were presented as action items to be placed on next week's consent agenda for formal board consideration.
