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Council hears public comment and staff briefing on possible school-board stipend changes
Summary
An emailed public comment urged review of school-board stipends. Staff and counsel clarified that the school board sets stipends and any increase would require school-board action and follow state timing rules; current stipends cited as $3,500 for the chair and $3,000 for members.
An emailed public comment read at the Jan. 7 meeting asked the Manassas Park governing body to review school-board stipends and align them with neighboring jurisdictions.
Paul Alexander, in an email read into the record, said he was writing as a citizen (not as a school-board member) and urged the governing body to consider modifying the salary structure to improve recruitment. Councilmembers confirmed they received Alexander’s comparative data and that it will be included in the meeting record.
City staff and legal counsel explained that the governing body does not itself set school-board salaries. Dean summarized the applicable timing rules under state code and explained that the school board may establish or change stipends subject to statutory windows (for example, action by Dec. 31 in the year before terms begin may affect an effective date of July 1 or Jan. 1 depending on timing). Staff said one scenario under discussion would represent a modest total ask likely under $10,000 spread over the relevant budget cycles and that any stipend change would need to be included in the school-budget process before the city can incorporate it in the city budget.
When asked how much current stipends are, staff reported the chair receives $3,500 annually and regular members receive $3,000 annually, paid monthly. Councilmembers expressed general support for showing public support and urged the school board to consider comparators in the region.
