Hi All,
I am glad to share that we presented a tentative 2019-2020 budget to the Board of Education (BOE) on Monday, March 25, 2019 during its March Work Session. The budget reflects a projected increase in revenues. We have always shared that we would consider employee raises as we strengthened the fund balance. Well, I am honored that our recommendation to the BOE reflects just this. Our recommendation is to ensure that those on the teachers scale receive all that the Governor will include in his final budget along with a step increase. The Governor's raise plus the step is about 6% on average. All others will receive a step which equates to about 3% average increase. Our lowest paid employees will receive a step and an additional $1/hr which will given them an average increase of about 7%. We are trying to become the highest paying district in Metro Atlanta. We are headed in that direction.
We are projecting a fund balance of about $48 Million. If we continue improving our fund balance at this rate, we will be able to continue to make significant strides to become the highest paying district in Metro Atlanta. Thanks for your patience as we work to make this a reality. We are excited that we had a 95% contract return rate which is the highest we have had. We realize that people have until June but we hope everyone who returned their contract will hang in here with us. It is only going to get better. As we continue to work smart, we will continue to make strides towards being a high performing school district. Oftentimes, we compare ourselves to others without realizing the differences in one's beginning and journey. Let's continue to work together and I am sure we will continue to see wonderful things happen in Clayton County Public Schools. Our journey will only get better.
Until the next blog.
Dr. B.
