Guilford County Schools officials expect recruitment and retention challenges after failed funding efforts

Earlier this year, Guilford County Schools asked commissioners for $10 million to increase teacher pay and $6.8 million for the salaries of staff like bus drivers and custodians.

When that money wasn’t provided, officials went another route. They turned to voters this election with a quarter-cent sales tax increase to foot the bill. But that failed too. 

At a school board meeting on Tuesday, Chief Financial Officer Tyler Beck said as a result, hiring top talent won’t be easy this fiscal year. 

“We will continue to face challenges with regards to recruiting and retaining quality educators," Beck said. "The district continues to plan to advocate at the state and local level for competitive living wages for all staff.”

Board member Alan Sherouse expressed his disappointment with the failing of the quarter-cent sales tax at the meeting.

"But of course, that was merely a stopgap measure for what we know are much larger issues facing public education and the decrease of funding, and the failure to give the funding that's necessary for our schools and our educators to do the excellent work that our kids deserve," Sherouse said. 

Officials say GCS teacher supplements are 35% lower than those of neighboring districts of a similar size.

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.