Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Teacher Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
EPIC board approves $257.6 million FY2026–27 budget that includes teacher pay increases
Summary
The EPIC Charter Schools board on May 21 approved a FY2026–27 budget that includes a per-student teacher funding increase from $2,160 to $2,280, raises the minimum full‑time teacher salary from $40,000 to $50,000, and adds funding for reading interventionists and counselors.
The EPIC Charter Schools board approved a proposed $257.6 million FY2026–27 budget on May 21 that funds a teacher compensation package and increases the district’s contingency reserves.
The board voted to adopt the budget following a public hearing and discussion of staffing priorities. Justin Hunt, who presented the teacher-compensation proposal, said the plan raises the per-student funding that determines teacher pay from $2,160 to $2,280 — an increase Hunt described as roughly 5.5 percent — and establishes a $50,000 salary floor for full-time teachers, up from the current $40,000. "If we kept the same 31 students, that same teacher will make $70,680 next school year," Hunt said, describing the effect on an "average teacher" paid at the district’s current per-student rate.
The compensation changes and other personnel investments are included in the FY2026–27 budget, finance staff told the board. Finance director (presentation) Mr. Florey said the teacher-focused increase is about $8 million. He also identified other budget drivers: reading interventionists (about $2 million), additional college-and-career and counseling positions (staff gave ranges in the mid-hundreds of thousands to low millions), and a contingency fund of roughly $20 million.
"These increases are in the potential budget that we are putting forth today," Dr. Sean Ross, superintendent, said while introducing the proposal. Florey told the board the proposed budget assumes conservative state-aid estimates and treats carryover as revenue.
Board members asked for and received a breakdown of major cost drivers. A board member asked, "How many students are you budgeting for?" Florey replied the budget is written for roughly 31,000 students. When asked whether funds existed to pay for the teacher increases, staff said the increases were included in the proposed budget.
The board moved to close the public hearing and then approved the proposed FY2026–27 budget pursuant to the school district budget act in a roll-call vote with the present members recorded as voting in favor.
Votes at a glance: the teacher compensation plan and the FY2026–27 budget were both approved by affirmative roll-call votes of the members present. (Miss Berry was recorded as absent earlier in the meeting.)
The board’s next steps will be implementation of the budget for FY2026–27 and executing contracts and staffing changes authorized within it.
