Board approves tentative 2024-25 budget including proposed 5% pay increase and $15 minimum for classified staff

Spencer County Schools presented a tentative 2024-25 budget to the board on May 28 that the board approved unanimously.

Finance staff highlighted several items: a proposed 5% across-the-board raise for employees, step increases tied to experience, and a district policy that would set a minimum starting teacher salary at $45,000. The plan also calls for a $15/hour minimum for classified employees. Finance staff said the CERS retirement matching rate is dropping to about 19.71 percent, which they estimate will save roughly $190,000 and help offset personnel costs.

The tentative budget includes a technology appropriation of $250,000 — roughly $200,000 targeted for student devices and $50,000 for teacher workstations — and a contingency of about $1.7 million (approximately 5.9% of the general fund). Staff also reflected costs for bus purchases and the school resource officer contract, and they noted ESSER-funded positions being transitioned into the recurring budget where appropriate.

Greg Murphy, who presented highlights, summarized the net general fund impact of the proposed salary changes as approximately $834,000 after accounting for the retirement-rate savings. Board members asked clarifying questions about instrument funding and bus costs; staff provided line-item clarifications (for example, $5,000 at the middle school and $10,000 at the high school for band instruments as proposed). The superintendent and finance staff asked the board to approve the tentative budget as presented; the motion passed unanimously.

Board discussion continued into proposed staffing-formula changes and custodial staffing priorities; staff said some additional position reclassifications will be brought back for action in later meetings.