Resident urges district, vendors and county to fund starter supplement for teachers

During the public comment portion of Monday's board meeting, Carrie Hamill urged Orange County Schools and community partners to address what she called a structural deficit in teacher supplements and proposed a 'starter fund' to jump‑start higher supplemental pay for teachers and school staff.

Hamill, who has attended board meetings for years, said the district is not competitive with neighboring systems on supplements and that the shortfall hurts students and staff. She asked professional service firms (law and audit firms, architects), consultants and vendors to consider voluntarily contributing 5–15% of what they are paid into a starter fund; she also suggested central office furlough days and reduced association fees as ways to free money for supplements. “The teachers and the staff need a supplement that is higher,” Hamill said, calling the gap a structural deficit that "is hurting the children."

Board members acknowledged the concern. Bonnie and other members praised recent public advocacy at the county commissioner level and encouraged residents to email county commissioners and attend the county budget hearing (May 28 at 7 p.m., Southern Human Services on Homestead Road) if they support raising supplements. Board members noted that state budget proposals (an average 8% teacher raise) could increase the district's continuation shortfall and that local matching decisions involve the county. The board advised the public that silence can be interpreted as a lack of priority by county officials and reiterated contact details for the county manager’s office.

No formal board action on teacher supplements was taken at the meeting; the comment was heard during the public comment session and board members asked the community to advocate publicly to county decision makers.