The spending plan may not contain the major pay increases included last year – around 8 percent – but school officials say those raises, and a new stipend and paid parental leave policy, are having an effect in other areas, like recruitment and retention.
"One of the reasons why we saw greater costs that, perhaps, what was anticipated was because of the number of teachers, educators, and staff who decided to stay in Fayette County," board chair Tyler Murphy said.
This year’s raises were around 1 percent.
The $817 million budget comes as the district shifts away from some reliance on pandemic-era funding. The loss of some relief dollars led to concerns about cuts in arts programs earlier this year.
Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said changes based on enrollment numbers, what courses are requested, and other factors always play a role in how funding is allocated.
Safety Portal
During their action meeting Monday, the school board also heard about an online “Safety Tracker,” meant to provide up-to-date information for parents and families.
At the top left of the new online portal, visitors will find a real-time or near real-time ticker with the latest breaking information regarding safety on campuses.
"Many times, we want to get accurate information out, but we want to get it out as quick as we can," Fayette School Chief of Police Martin Schafer explained. "This is going to be a tool that we're really excited about that will report things on our campuses, and just like a ticker you see anywhere else, it will scroll, be up-to-date, and give the information that you need."
The site also breaks down what different law enforcement terms, such as “lockdown” and “heightened alert,” mean.
Users can also expect updates on severe weather, transportation issues, and any other safety-related information.
The site is now up and running. It can be found at fcps.net/safety.
