GCS superintendent's proposed budget includes pay bumps for teachers, principals

The Guilford County Board of Education is considering a proposed budget for the new fiscal year that would include pay hikes for teachers and some other district employees.

Superintendent Sharon Contreras presented her proposed budget to the school board on Tuesday night. She recommends asking Guilford County commissioners for more than $25 million in new funding. A large chunk of that would be earmarked for compensation increases in an effort to retain and recruit employees. That includes supplements for teachers, principals and assistant principals. 

Contreras says the proposal also calls for increases for classified staff. The district is currently conducting a compensation study for this category of employees, which includes bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers.

The Guilford County Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at its next meeting on May 10. If approved by the school board and funded by county commissioners, the district's operating budget for the new fiscal year would be more than $1 billion, excluding capital expenditures.

Guilford County voters will consider a major bond referendum during the primary election to address capital needs in the school district. Guilford County Schools officials say the $1.7 billion bond would touch every school in the system.

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