Board considers new teachers, support staff and a CFO deputy as part of FY27 requests

Cherokee County school staff presented a slate of personnel requests intended to support instruction and operations in FY27, including additions to fine arts, special education and maintenance staffing.

The finance lead explained several targeted FTE requests: “This is kind of the fine arts initiative — to get a drama teacher and art teacher so split positions become full time,” the chief financial officer said, describing the district’s plan to stop splitting teachers between schools. Staff also recommended adding an academic interventionist formerly funded by CSI/Title I, a discipline secretary for Gaffney High to free principals for classroom observations, and a maintenance foreman to manage capital projects tied to an energy audit by Schneider Electric.

Special education needs were highlighted: staff requested a legally mandated 1‑on‑1 teacher for a entering kindergartner at BD Lee who is blind and beginning braille instruction. Student‑services staff confirmed recruitment plans for a compliance coordinator to manage changed special‑education eligibility requirements. Dr. Blanton described administrative benefits of a discipline secretary, saying the role would “help get the administrators into the classroom to conduct more observations.”

Staff also requested a director‑level finance position to improve grants oversight and reduce repeated returns of expired grant funds to the state. The CFO said the position would focus on state and federal grant oversight and monthly training for bookkeepers, arguing it would “pay for itself” by preserving reimbursable dollars.

The board asked for details—including a list of coaches and year‑to‑year supplement data for athletics, comparative pay scales with neighboring districts for salary competitiveness, and confirmation of how many nurses and substitute nurses the district maintains—before the first reading.