A $2 million budget amendment was approved by the Henry County Board of Education at its August 23 special called meeting to allow for expenditures necessary to implement the district’s Transportation Improvement Plan and Responsive Workforce Investment Plan for critical support services and other related needs.
The move increases the budget for this fiscal year from $415.4 million to $417.4 million. According to district officials, any deficit that might be created by this adjustment will be covered by federal funds designated for COVID relief as well as state money allocated for an increase in student enrollment.
A large part of that money will cover a pay boost for hundreds of support staff members throughout the district. The school board approved a budgetary measure that will allow implementation of a plan calling for a number of changes in compensation and benefits for employees in various departments.
Bus driver and bus monitor salaries are going up two dollars per hour retroactive to the first day of school, and an incentive program for current drivers has been created to encourage recruitment of new hires. Pay raises are also coming for clinic aides, school nutrition assistants and managers, daily and permanent substitute teachers, and substitute school nutrition assistants.
It was announced at the meeting that students and staff would get a four-day Labor Day weekend. School and district office closures for September 3 were approved to align with the holiday for state employees recently implemented by Gov. Brian Kemp.
It was also announced that curbside food pickup locations across the district are being reduced from ten to four, with a reduced number of menu items at each school, effective the week of August 30. The four locations remaining for this service are Stockbridge Middle, Woodland High, McDonough Middle and Luella High.
As part of a new COVID-inspired emergency management plan, Superintendent Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis encouraged all families who are able to personally transport their own children to school to do so, reducing the burden on the district’s transportation department, and announced that campuses would be open earlier with supervised care for students.
Elementary schools are now beginning car line drop-off at 7 a.m. with high schools opening at 7:15 and middle schools at 7:30.
