The Sumter County School Board discussed substitute teacher pay during the December 3 meeting. Superintendent Walter Knighton addressed the Board, speaking of the importance of attracting good teachers and how compensation was a crucial step.

He compared the proposed increase in substitute teacher pay with the pay under ESSER. The pay scale is broken up into three parts, including level 1, level 2, and level 3. “Level one for a substitute teacher that held a current Georgia teaching certificate, previously with ESSER they were making $85 a day.” He gave the proposed increase as $125 per day. “On level two, where we had an individual that had a four-year degree or an expired Georgia teacher’s certificate or an out of State certificate, previously, under ESSER, they were making approximately $80 a day.” He gave the proposed increase to $110 per day. “Level three, an individual that’s non-certified, without a degree or certification. . . with ESSER, was $75 a day.” He proposed to go to $95 per day. He stated that each of those rates were for the daily substitutes.

School board member Carolyn Hamilton asked about funding. Knighton stated there was budget left over for certified substitutes after the first semester. “We still have 81% of that budget still left over to spend.”

Knighton also presented a recommendation for increase in the pay of long-term substitutes. “We’re proposing $175 for a long-term sub, which brings us approximately to about $25 an hour for those long-term subs.” He stated that would be for those who had a four-year degree or a Georgia teacher’s certificate.

Knighton referenced a salary study. “I looked at our compensation study, as it relates to our provisional teachers. I looked at provisional teachers, and what provisional teachers, based on their certification, were making.”

Rick Barnes commented. “If you look at historical figures, this is a 30% increase.” He questioned Knighton. “Do you feel comfortable with that in the budget?”

Knighton commented. “We looked at the numbers, and with the numbers that we had, this was what we felt that we could be able to afford to do.”

Barnes asked how it compared to their region. Knighton responded, stating he didn’t have specific numbers; “we just utilized our compensation study information.” He stated the compensation study made a; “comparison around our specific regional area for that those particular amounts.”

Board member Vincent Kearse commented. “I have no problem with it Mr. Knighton if you say it’s in the budget.”

Knighton gave the financial reports for November. He gave the preliminary cash flow, stating it shows the day-to-day general funds balance as of November the 30 as $9,671,100.43. “As of November the 30th [a] combined $6,302,227.26 was available, designated for our capital and special projects.”

He gave SLOST numbers. “For the month of November, SPLOST collection was $459,032.60, bringing our average monthly collection to $460,065.43.”

Knighton gave the expenditures. “We have completed roughly for us across the board, 41.66% of our fiscal year’s budget, of our operational year.”

He also gave the fund balance. “Our fund balance right now is roughly $14,248,394.58.”

Knighton gave the school nutrition report, noting that the report lagged behind one month and was for the month of October. “As of October 31, of 2024, we have $1,277,636.08 in our nutrition report.”

Knighton also gave the debt service remaining balance as $10,645,350. The last payment will be submitted in October 2027.