Spartanburg District Five teachers and employees will receive a four percent raise next school year, according to the annual budget for the 2019-20 school year.
The $93,129,321 budget, which reflects an 8.5 percent increase over last year, was approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees in a meeting Monday evening. It marks the 10th consecutive year Spartanburg District Five Schools has passed a budget with no millage increase for general operations.
Growth continues to be a challenge, however, and will result in an increase of the district’s debt service millage. The exact amount remains unknown until the release of tax assessments later this fall. The increase is needed to help fund several major construction projects, including expansions at Abner Creek Academy and Beech Springs Intermediate, the Byrnes High School parking project and a new roof at Byrnes Freshman Academy.
Other significant highlights include:
• 39.4 additional positions to accommodate district growth and new programs
• Additional $3.8 million in personnel costs due to salary and benefit increases
• $300,000 increase in one-to-one technology budget
Over the last three decades, District Five’s student enrollment has more than doubled, as the district’s 12 schools serve just under 9,000 students.
In the last two years, District Five has welcomed 654 new students: the approximate population size of an entire elementary school. At this rate, Superintendent Dr. Scott Turner said the district must prepare now to be ready for the future.
“This budget reflects District Five’s core belief of ‘Every Child, Every Day’ by maintaining low class sizes with the addition of 29 classroom teaching positions, along with extra support services like mental health counselors and psychologists. While we continue to grow, the needs of our students will always remain our focus.”