Potential budget to increase pay for Laurens County classified, certified staff

If the 2024-2025 budget is passed, classified and certified staff working in the Laurens County School District will receive a bump in pay.

“We are proposing an 8 percent increase for classified staff and a 2.5 percent increase for certified staff,” Laurens County Superintendent Clifford Garnto said. 

“The 2.5 percent is the first time we’ve raised the base salary. That is on top of what the governor is doing for teachers.” 

Garnto said the budget is scheduled to be voted on during a called meeting which will be held at 5:30 p.m. on May 21. 

The second and final budget hearing will be held 30 minutes earlier.

Classified staff are paraprofessionals, custodians, lunchroom workers, bus drivers and secretaries.

“This will be a great way to go into the end of the school year,” Garnto said.

In other business, the board:

– Recognized the old West Laurens High School as the winner of the Clean School Award.

– Highlighted art from East Laurens High School that was displayed in the board room.

– Honored Lady Raiders’ region low medalist golfer Kate Belote, who is a senior. Lady Raiders head coach Chuck Hill said Belote was the low medalist four years in a row at region.

– Honored Raiders’ region low medalist Brody Graham, who is a freshman. 

– Honored the Raider baseball team for making it to the quarterfinals after winning region.

– At a workshop earlier in the week, honored the region champion boys and girls tennis teams from West Laurens.

– Approved the retirements of Jo Ann Woodard Holt (Laurens School transportation) and Katrina Miller (teacher at ELHS).

– Approved the resignations of Aneikque Martin (food nutrition assistant at SWLE), Adrian Thomas (transportation for Laurens County Schools), Brenda Kay Zimpel (food nutrition assistant at SWLE).

– Approved the change of job/duties of Heather Speer from WLMS as teacher to ELHS as instructional coach.

– Approved the following new hires: Robin Baker (teacher at East Laurens Primary), Brittney Brantley (parapro at NWLE), Kristal Leigh Brown (parapro at ELHS), Emily Collins (parapro at NWLE), Martiza Garcia (parapro at NWLE), Jeremiah Hicks (parapro at ELHS), Megan Thomas (teacher at ELMS), Keith Wetherhold (transportation for Laurens County Schools), Carria White (parapro at NWLE).