Finance committee forwards pay and budget priorities, including petition to raise substitute bus pay to $17

The Lynchburg City Public Schools finance and facilities committee reviewed a package of budget priorities and voted to forward the list to the full board. Items the committee asked staff to include in the board packet include whether the $2,400 annual board stipend should appear as a monthly line item in budget reports, additional personal days for some employees, higher compensation for bus drivers and aides, expanded alternative education at multiple levels, an increase to the beginning teacher salary and a maintenance plan to replace a portion of the vehicle fleet on a regular schedule.

Speaker 4 told the committee the board recently adopted a $50,000 starting teacher salary and raised the baseline for hourly employees to $17 an hour effective 07/01/2025; staff said substitute bus drivers and aides currently are paid at a different, lower rate (identified in the meeting as $14.25). Staff requested the finance committee petition the full board to allow a recruitment and retention increase for substitute bus workers to $17 per hour. Speaker 1 moved to forward the budget priorities and make the substitute pay petition; Speaker 2 seconded and the committee indicated agreement.

On fleet replacement, staff reported there is no current replacement plan and that some vehicles are more than 15 years old; the committee asked staff to analyze the fleet and propose a replacement schedule tied to useful‑life guidance from the Auditor of Public Accounts. The committee scheduled the finance and facilities committee’s next meeting and adjourned.