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Parents and union leaders urge Clayton County board to prioritize teacher pay and retention
Summary
During public participation speakers—parents, an educator and the Clayton County Education Association—pressed the board to focus on attracting and retaining teachers through competitive pay, a comprehensive salary schedule review, and cost-of-living adjustments.
Several members of the public used the meeting’s public-participation period to press the board on compensation and workforce stability.
Monnique Agnu opened comments by urging board members to keep students at the center of decisions and to prioritize what benefits students: "Every decision made in this boardroom should ultimately be measured by one question. How does it benefit our students?" She framed the discussion as a call for unity around student outcomes.
Kimberly Owens, speaking as a parent and educator, thanked the board for recent work but asked the district to make retaining and attracting high-quality teachers a top priority, saying, "Teachers are the foundation of student success." Owens urged action on compensation, safe learning environments, and supports to reduce turnover.
Janice McAllister, vice chair of the Clayton County Education Association (CCEA), told the board the union welcomes recent transparency on beginning teacher salaries but asked for a comprehensive plan addressing salary schedules for certified and classified employees, mid-year step increases and a possible cost-of-living adjustment to combat rising living costs.
Board members did not debate those public comments during the meeting; the remarks were noted for potential future agenda items and administrative follow-up.
