The Chatham County Board of Education on Nov. 3 approved its first budget amendment for the 2025'26 fiscal year, bringing the district's total amended budget to $137,607,289.89 and reconciling state, federal and local funds.

A staff presenter described fund-level changes: an increase of $508,334 in the state public-school fund driven by categorical allotments, principal bonuses and literacy/intervention grants; a local current-expense decrease of $1.7 million reflecting actual county appropriations and strategic reductions (utilities, maintenance, instructional supplies) meant to protect classroom staffing; and a federal grants increase of about $2.9 million for Title programs and CTE, among other grants. The presenter told the board the district is still awaiting migrant funds.

Board members pressed for clarity about how the district has used its fund balance in recent years. Staff displayed a multi-year chart that showed roughly $6.5 million of fund-balance use over prior years for initiatives such as employee retention bonuses, ESS contract services, AVID expansion, arts staffing increases and other recruitment/retention incentives. Superintendent Dr. Jackson said a surprise increase of approximately 100 charter-school students at the end of the prior year required a transfer of about $700,000 and that the district had covered free-meal costs of about $600,000 from local funds in the prior year.

The board approved the budget amendment by voice vote after a motion and second (voice tally not specified in the transcript). The board also approved the 2025'26 school improvement plans by voice vote earlier in the meeting; that vote likewise used a motion and voice approval without a roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.

Superintendent Jackson and staff framed the budget actions as part of a multi-year effort to stabilize staffing and programs after COVID and to preserve classroom positions. Jackson described spending from fund balance as largely one-time investments and said the district implemented a 75%/25% budget release hold earlier in the year to manage uncertainty. Jackson also urged that requests for immediate restoration of stipends be balanced against the district's fiscal constraints and the county-level budgeting process.

Votes at a glance

- School improvement plans (2025'26): Motion to approve as presented; voice vote recorded as "aye"; tally not specified. Outcome: approved.

- 2025'26 Budget Amendment No. 1: Motion to approve as presented; voice vote recorded as "aye"; tally not specified. Outcome: approved.

Provenance (excerpted): budget presentation begins at 01:46:48 and includes the $137,607,289.89 amount and fund-level detail; budget amendment motion and vote recorded at 01:54:12 and 01:59:12 respectively.