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Board approves $178,000 one-time school allocation for salary bands and student laptops
Summary
Commissioners approved a $178,000 one-time allocation to Rockingham County Schools — $103,000 to establish central-office salary bands to aid recruitment and $75,000 to purchase laptops for CTE Innovative/Early College students.
The Rockingham County Board approved on June 1 a $178,000 one-time allocation to Rockingham County Schools to address recruitment challenges and to equip students.
Superintendent John Stover asked for the funding to create salary bands for central-office director positions and to buy laptops for the district’s CTE Innovative and early-college high school students. Dr. Perkins, who answered operational questions, said recent director job postings drew no applicants and the banding is intended to reduce pay disincentives for principals considering central-office roles.
Dr. Perkins described the dual request as separating a one-time equipment purchase from the pay-band change: "We do feel like, through reorganization in the future, we know that we'll have to budget accordingly to continue with this funding," he said, but added the district submitted it as a one-time request while it works toward longer-term solutions.
Commissioner Burger questioned treating salary changes as a one-time expense; Dr. Perkins acknowledged the concern but said the funding is intended to stabilize pay while the district pursues structural solutions and possible state adjustments.
A motion by Commissioner Hall to approve $178,000 outside the proposed FY 2026–27 budget — $103,000 for establishment of central-office administrator salary bands and $75,000 for laptops — was seconded and carried by voice vote.
What the money covers - $103,000: establishment of salary bands for central-office director/senior director positions to make those roles competitive and reduce pay disincentives. - $75,000: one-time purchase of student laptops for the CTE Innovative/Early College program (district officials said chromebooks are not compatible with the college systems used).
