The Henry County Board of Education voted May 8 to approve a $510.1 million general fund budget for the 2023-2024 school year.
The highest ever for the district, the budget amount reflected a millage rate that is unchanged since 2007 and an average of $11,677 per student, which is an increase of more than $1,000 over last year.
“The strength of our local economy coupled with our Board of Education’s sound financial management and investments were the driving forces behind a budget that allows us to address critical objectives such as competitive compensation, staffing increases, and investments in key initiatives of our Community-Inspired Strategic Plan,” said Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis. “This budget allows us to continue to invest more in students while we also grow as a competitive employer.”
Teacher salaries are rising by more than 7 percent, putting the starting teacher salary at $48,410 per year. Wage hikes between 3 and 15 percent are coming for other salaried employees. Officials said the new standard means annual teacher pay has gone up more than $10,000 since 2018.
“Providing the best possible learning environment for Henry County students was our top priority in developing this budget,” said Board Chair Annette Edwards (Dist. 2). “I believe that is reflected in our historic investment per student, as well as our eagerness to go beyond state investments in compensation to ensure we attract and retain the highest quality educators and support staff.”
The budget also continues targeted investments in the hourly rates for paraprofessionals, campus safety monitors, clinic aides, school nutrition assistants, and a $2 per hour increase for bus drivers, whose hourly rate will now start at $19.79. Additionally, the budget encompasses the state-mandated increase in benefits, which totals $20.7 million.
Staffing increases were also addressed, with 45 new teacher positions created, including six dedicated to the Community-Inspired Strategic Plan initiative to increase access to middle school orchestra.
“As Henry County continues to grow and thrive, we believe this budget enables our schools to continue to grow and thrive,” said Vice Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “Our community deserves the best when it comes to the safety and quality of our schools, and this historic budget directly addresses those priorities.”
Included in the board’s action were approvals of the budgets for the Special Revenue Fund and Capital Projects Fund. The two funds include targeted investments, many of which are related to sustaining the momentum of the district’s current Community-Inspired Strategic Plan, which will be entering its third of five years. These include safety and security enhancements, facility growth projects, asset growth and replacement, instructional resources, and more.
The final budget is consistent with the figures tentatively adopted by the board last month. Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay reported there were nominal adjustments to support a strategic staffing pilot program and to account for inflation.
