Newton County BOE Adopts FY’26 Budget; Takes Aim At Improving Teacher Compensation, Stresses Moderation Elsewhere
Covington, GA – The Newton County Board of Education has adopted its FY ‘26 general fund budget, delivering a resounding response to one of its most persistent issues, employee compensation. By a unanimous vote, the Board’s approved budget reflects a district-wide commitment to its employees while maintaining a cautious approach to spending elsewhere.
A Clear Response to Employee Voice
For the past three years, the top priority voiced by employees has not been about student discipline, the availability of resources, or matters of safety -- it has been compensation. In response, the Board commissioned a classification and compensation study last spring, the results of which confirmed what staff had long expressed about the need to improve compensation.
With the FY ‘26 budget,
• Starting salaries for teachers will rise to $53,000, a $12,000 increase from five years ago.
• Veteran educators with 14+ years of experience will receive targeted salary adjustments designed to recognize their commitment and encourage continued service.
• Classified staff, including paraprofessionals, custodians, and school nutrition workers will see long-overdue restructuring of their pay scales to address persistent compensation challenges.
For context, these enhancements were necessary because in recent years, staffing shortages have led to increased reliance on contract teachers, novice professionals, and non-certified educators. Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley, III said, “Our contract professionals have been helpful. They’ve stood in the gap for us – and we need them, but our school district is built upon a traditional staffing model that benefits from and rewards highly skilled, well trained, and deeply committed educators.”
Superintendent Bradley also noted that waiting longer to address compensation could have deepened wage gaps and made it harder to recover. “This was the year to act,” said Bradley.
Strategic Reductions
Even with an overall budget increase of 6.8% from FY 2025, the district approached spending in this budget with moderation in mind. All six divisions, including Human Resources, Learning & Leadership, Operations, Family and Student Supports, Technology, and Finance, underwent extensive internal reviews during the budget’s preparation process. Collectively, these departments reduced their budgets by over $500,000 from the previous year which is not insignificant considering that no new staff positions were added to the general budget unless addressing an issue of compliance.
Additionally, 88% of the FY 2026 general fund is dedicated to salaries and benefits, underscoring the district’s belief that the strength of its schools begins with its people. The remaining 12% supports every other district function; instruction, safety, programming, technology, and more.
Right Time, Right Reasons
This budget was made possible through years of financial austerity. Consider that the district’s 30-year low millage rate of 16 mils was lowered even further last school year to 15.75. This effort was to enable taxpayer relief and was a recognition that Newton County Schools cannot thrive outside of what is mutually beneficial for the community and the school district.
Looking Ahead
Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley, III also acknowledged that tighter budget years may lie ahead. “Rising costs and less revenue means that we will need to find ways to reduce expenses and generate new revenue,” he said. “But this year, we focused on what matters most — our people.”