Salary increases make up bulk of expanded RCSS costs
ASHEBORO – Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System, submitted a proposed budget of nearly $27 million for the 2024-25 school year, representing an increase of almost 1.1 percent.
The budget as presented last week to the RCSS board of education is listed at $26,846,240.
That’s more than a $2 million increase from the proposal for this school year, which checked in at $24,762,040.
The increase comes primarily, based on a report from finance officer Marty Trotter, from continuation costs (such as insurance increases, match in retirement increases, charter school payments, property insurance, utility increases), an additional school resource officer contribution, 1% supplement increase for employees (equal to $1.2 million), and transportation costs.
Gainey identified no additional “capital outlay” funding needed. In a letter to the board of education and Randolph County commissioners, he said that’s the case “due to your high level of support of our school system over the years.”
Here are some other developments from the mid-April board of education meeting:
Gift accepted to aid mechanics program
The Randolph County Economic Development Corporation presented a gift of more than $9,600 to purchase a welder for agriculture mechanics program at three schools.
The impacted programs are at Eastern Randolph Southwestern Randolph and Trinity.
Governor’s School selections
Four students from the RCSS have been picked to attend North Carolina Governor’s School this summer in Raleigh or Winston-Salem.
The students are Providence Grove’s Isabella Malpica (English), Southwestern Randolph’s Robert Mason (choral music – bass 2) and Isaac Barlow (mathematics) and Randolph Early College’s Alexius Flowers (English).
The North Carolina Governor’s School is a four-week summer residential program for rising, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses. The curriculum focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline.
A maximum of 335 students will be assigned to either Meredith College in Raleigh or Salem College in Winston-Salem.
Mark the dates
RCSS board of education revised its 2024-25 school calendar by adding four dates with early releases of students. The dates are Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Feb. 6 and March 27 – all Thursdays.
The board’s action provides time for school-based professional development for staff members at all schools. Randolph Early College High School won’t be involved with the early releases.
The next board of education meeting is scheduled for May 20.
