School Board Sends Budget Request to County Commissioners 

Greensboro, N.C. – Following a public hearing, the Guilford County Board of Education voted to leave the Superintendent’s budget recommendation for 2026-27 unchanged and submit it to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.  

In March, Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley shared her budget recommendation, which was created in partnership with county officials. Hoping to simplify the budget negotiation process, Guilford County Schools (GCS) and Guilford County government staff have been working together during the past year to develop a system of budgeting that works for both the county and the district. system of budgeting that works for both the county and the district.  

The resulting five-year plan, which uses the funding model from another North Carolina county as its starting point, bases the budget on an agreement from the County to provide increases to salaries, retirement and healthcare costs that match actions from the General Assembly. This model also adjusts funding based on student enrollment and consumer price index (CPI) data. Lastly, it modifies charter school allotments based on student enrollment. The total amount included in the model captures the year-over-year increase in charter school growth.      

Under this model, the budget plan for 2027-2031 focuses on four key priorities:  

• Increase in staff compensation; 

• Technology replacement cycle; 

• Continued school safety strategies; and 

• Vehicle, activity bus and non-bond capital. 

Staff Compensation: Our request includes a teacher pay supplement adjustment totaling $10 million in the first year and $9.2 million in the second year. Funding for future increases could be provided by the sales tax referendum expected on the ballot this November. If approved by voters, the majority of the increase in sales tax revenue would be dedicated to teacher supplements.  

For classified staff, we are requesting $3 million per year over the next five years, for a total of $15 million that would be used to help bring classified pay scales up to market value.  

Technology Replacement: For the 2026-27 school year, we are requesting $19.53 million to replace out-of-date devices that were purchased during the pandemic using federal ESSER funding. Requests would be smaller in subsequent years, totaling $44 million by the end of five years.    

Continued School Safety Strategies: We are requesting $3.68 million in funding to continue the use of security cameras, weapons detection systems, radio amplification and licensing fees, and visitor management/student identification system.  

Vehicle, Bus and Non-Bond Capital: We are requesting $1.3 million per year over the next five years to fund capital expenses not covered by bond dollars, including vehicle replacements and other non-bond eligible building improvements.   

The County Manager will present its budget proposal on May 21, followed by a public hearing on June 4. The County is expected to approve a final budget on June 18.  

Also Tuesday, the school board passed a resolution calling on the North Carolina General Assembly to pass a 2026 appropriations bill. North Carolina is the only state that has not passed a budget this year.  

The resolution requests that the General Assembly passes a budget resolution that:  

• Mirrors the House proposal for all school employee salaries in the second year of its proposed budget (SB 257, Version 6), includes step increases at every level, and provides education-based salary supplements;  

• Increases the Public School Repair & Renovation Fund from $50 million to $70 million as proposed in both the 2025 Senate and House budget plans;  

• Allocates $27.9 million in recurring funds for 320 additional school health personnel positions; and 

• Implements a weighted funding model for Exceptional Children funding, or in its absence, a minimum increase of the cap to 13.5% of allotted Average Daily Membership (ADM) at a cost of $20 million in recurring funds.