Lee County Board unanimously approves $2,000 one‑time pay supplement and routine business

The Lee County Board of Education on March 9 voted unanimously to approve a $2,000 one‑time pay supplement for K–12 employees and moved through routine business items including minutes, the January financial report, and personnel and consent agendas.

Board members voted 5–0 to approve the minutes of the Feb. 9 regular meeting and to accept the January 2026 financial report as submitted. The personnel agenda and the consent agenda — which included fundraisers, overnight trips, a new ninth‑grade course request and the district salary guide — also passed on unanimous votes.

Dr. Cher, presenting the amended FY2026 budget language adopted by the governor, said the state has provided a $2,000 onetime supplement for most K–12 employees and that the way the legislation is written suggests the state will fund 629 of the district’s 833 employees. The district estimated an additional local cost of about $439,622 to extend the supplement to all employees and recommended funding the difference from fiscal‑efficiency savings rather than reserves. “We recommend that the bonus be extended to all employees and funded from fiscal efficiency savings this year,” Dr. Cher said.

The board approved the pay supplement 5–0 and adopted the staff recommendation to fund the local share from efficiency savings.

Votes at a glance • Minutes, Feb. 9, 2026 — Approved, 5–0. • January 2026 financial report — Approved, 5–0. • Personnel agenda — Approved, 5–0. • Consent agenda (fundraisers, overnight trips, course requests, salary guide) — Approved, 5–0. • One‑time $2,000 pay supplement for employees — Approved, 5–0. • Motion to enter executive session (superintendent matters) — Approved, 5–0.

The board noted there were no public commenters at this meeting. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for April 20, 2026.