News Summary
The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees has approved a $962.9 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, focusing on teacher salaries and special education.
Greenville – The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a budget of $962.9 million for the upcoming fiscal year 2026. This decision was made during a public hearing on June 2, and the budget will take effect on July 1. Notably, there will be no increase in the millage rate, and a reduction in total millage is anticipated due to a county-wide reassessment of property values.
The budget aims to address concerns related to the State Aid to Classrooms Program and the local fee-in-lieu-of-tax (FILOT) revenue. It is significant to note that Greenville County will not redistribute FILOT payments to the school district this fiscal year, although the district has been assured that there will be no cut in funding from the FILOT revenue, which totals $25.5 million.
Superintendent Burke Royster emphasized the importance of attracting top talent while maintaining fiscal responsibility in the budget planning process. A key component of the budget is a salary increase of $1,300 for teachers, which raises the starting salary for first-year educators to $51,841. Approximately $9.59 million has been allocated for these teacher salary increases.
Additionally, all other employees in the district will receive a salary increase of 2.4% or a step increase, whichever is greater. The teacher salary schedule will also add a 37th step based on experience and education level, which will cost $6.8 million to implement. At present, the average teacher salary in the district is $71,261, with a base pay of $50,503.
Significant funding has been allocated for specialized services as well. The budget includes $965,000 to hire 10 new special education teachers and two behavior specialists. Furthermore, the salary scale for special education aides will be adjusted, raising the minimum hourly wage to $18. Special education aides will also gain three dedicated professional development days as part of this budget, with $506,000 earmarked to increase their starting hourly pay from $16.31 to $18.
As part of the district’s growth, the budget has allocated nearly $3 million for staffing at the new Reedy Laurel Elementary School, which is set to open in August. To address mental health needs within schools, a total of $1.5 million is designated for hiring 48 mental health counselors across the district.
Carolyn Styles, the board chair, believes that the approved budget represents a victory for teachers, focusing on providing competitive pay to retain quality educators and support their growth. The final budget reflects a responsible approach to managing finances while ensuring support for both student needs and employee retention, accounting for revenue and expenditures that are approximately $40 million more than the previous year’s budget.
Overall, the budget outlines Greenville County Schools’ commitment to improving educational resources and focusing on the well-being of both students and staff. With the substantial financial investment in teacher salaries, special education, and mental health services, the district aims to create an environment conducive to learning and professional development.
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Journal: Greenville County Schools Adopts $962M Budget
- WSPA: Greenville Co. Schools Approve $962M Budget
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Schools Approves Budget
- WYFF4: Greenville County School Board Approves FY 26 Budget
- Greenville Online: Teacher Raises and Counselor Hires in Budget
- Wikipedia: Education in the United States
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools budget
- Google Scholar: Greenville County Schools budget
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public School
- Google News: Greenville County Schools
