Agenda Item
c. Amended Fiscal Year 2026 Salary Supplement and Budget Amendment (Not to Exceed $27,669,104.57) ~ Updated 4.17.2026
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve a one-time salary supplement to eligible employees at a total cost not to exceed $27,669,104.57 and a budget amendment to increase General Fund.
It is requested that the Board approve a budget amendment to increase General Fund.
State revenues by $18,884,579 and
Expenditures of $865,474.43 to provide charter schools amount earned in this incentive
Expenditures of $26,019,104.57 to fund a one-time supplement to crqualifying employees.
Additional state and federal program funds of $1,650,000 will be used to pay qualifying employees that are funded through respective grants.
Why: While the state is distributing $18,884,579 to DCSD, the amount is based on QBE earnings and not sufficient to extend supplements to all eligible staff (as defined by DCSD in the details below). Of the revenue received, $865.474.43 is due to Charter Schools. An additional $8,000,000 will be needed from the General Fund, and $1,650,000 from other state and federal programs to cover the anticipated cost of $27,669,104.57.
Details: The following supplement rubric is recommended:
A one-time $2,000 supplement to full time, benefits eligible staff that were hired on or before October 1st, 2025
A one-time $1,000 supplement to full time, benefits eligible staff that were hired after October 1st, 2025
A one-time $1,000 supplement to crossing guards and part time staff, employed 49% or more, that were hired on or before October 1st, 2025
A one-time $1,000 supplement to substitutes and hourly employees that have worked at least 560 hours from the paycheck dated August 15th, 2025, though paycheck dated March 31st, 2026. This represents 50% of a full-time, 190-day schedule during this period.
In addition to the rubric above, employees must be actively employed as of April 20th, 2026.
Financial impact: General Fund - $18,884,579.00 State Revenue from the AFY2026 approved budget.
General Fund - $865,474.43 distribution to charter schools
General Fund - $27,669,104.57 to fund one-time supplements.
State and Federal Program Funds - $1,650,000 to fund one-time supplements.
This amendment seeks the board’s approval to use $8,000,000 of general fund, fund balance. As of February 2026 - the fund balance is sitting at 45.7%, or $746.8M. Assuming we maintain the current trajectory based on historical modeling we will drop to 21% in August 2026, which will be the low point for FY2027. At that point, 21% fund balance is over and above the stated goal of 15% by 6% which equates to $98.1M of available, unencumbered fund balance.
In connection with the state's AFY2026 passage on March 3, 2026, we are asking to extend $1,000 to $2,000 supplements to qualifying staff. The total cost of this incentive will be no more than $27,669,104.57 and be funded by a combination of general funds as well as state and federal program funding. Upon approval, this supplement will be processed by payroll in a stand-alone paycheck no later than Friday, April 24th, 2026.
Contact: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance, 678,676.0270
Effective: April 24, 2026
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required
Overview of AFY 2026 Salary Supplements for K-12
Governor Kemp’s AFY 2026 budget recommendation includes $366,984,504 in additional state funds for grants to the
state’s K-12 entities for $2,000 salary supplements to support retention of educators and support staff. These grants to
local education agencies (LEAs) were determined based on the count of certified and support positions earned in the
Quality Basic Education (QBE) and associated formulas as outlined below.
School districts earn QBE funds for positions based on student enrollment. QBE earned positions funded in supplements
include:
• Teacher • Lab Supervisor
• Art/Music/PE (Subj. Specialist) • Special Ed Specialist
• Aide (parapro) • Superintendent
• Clerk • Asst. Superintendent
• Counselor • Secretary
• Psychologist • Accountant
• Social Worker • Principal
• Technology Specialist
Non-QBE state funds for specified positions vary across the programs but generally earned based on student enrollment.
Non-QBE positions funded in supplements include:
• School Nurse • Custodians
• Ag Ed – Young Farmer, Area Teachers • Bus Drivers
• Nutrition Workers • Preschool Disabilities Teacher
Note: Total count of funded nurse, nutrition, bus driver, and preschool disabilities positions based on formula earnings. Custodian
counts based on DOE reported positions as of October 2025. Ag Ed position counts were reported by DOE as of December 2025.
Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) positions generally based on student enrollment.
Positions funded in supplements include:
• Teachers • Social Worker
• Parapros • Clerical
• Supervisors • Director
• Psychologist
The Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA) formula provides the positions below across each region of the state:
• Math Mentor • Director
• School Climate Specialist • Secretary
• ETC Service Providers • Bookkeeper
• English Language Arts Specialist • Consultant
Pre-K teachers and assistant teachers will receive supplemental funds through lottery-funded Pre-K grants distributed by
the Department of Early Care and Learning.
January 2026
Overview of AFY 2026 Salary Supplements for K-12
$2,000 AFY Supplement for School Districts
QBE Teachers and Certified Staff
Formula Certified Positions (QBE formula funded counts) Count Supplement and FICA @ 0.0145
QBE - Formula Weights Teacher 119,681 $242,832,778
QBE - Formula Weights Art, Music, PE (Subj. Specialist) 2,322 $4,711,020
QBE - Formula Weights Aide (parapro) 5,930 $12,031,439
QBE - Formula Weights Clerk 1,415 $2,871,843
QBE - Formula Weights Counselor 3,801 $7,712,733
QBE - Formula Weights Psychologist 707 $1,434,186
QBE - Formula Weights Social Worker 691 $1,402,315
QBE - Formula Weights Technology Specialist 1,555 $3,155,209
QBE - Formula Weights Lab Supervisor 299 $606,210
QBE - Formula Weights Special Ed Specialist 1,397 $2,835,394
QBE Formula Core Positions 137,798 $279,593,127
QBE- Central Admin Superintendent 177 $359,133
QBE- Central Admin Asst. Superintendent 560 $1,136,240
QBE- Central Admin Secretary 180 $365,220
QBE- Central Admin Accountant 180 $365,220
QBE - School Admin Principals 2,353 $4,774,237
QBE Formula Central & School Admin Positions 3,450 $7,000,050
Non QBE Teachers and Certified Staff
Formula Certified Positions (formula funded counts) Count Supplement and FICA @ 0.0145
School Nurse Elementary RN 138 $280,066
School Nurse Elementary LPN 690 $1,400,329
School Nurse Secondary RN 121 $245,604
School Nurse Secondary LPN 605 $1,228,019
School Nurses 1,554 $3,154,018
Preschool Disabilities Teacher 1,034 $2,098,108
Preschool Disabilities Services 1,034 $2,098,108
Agricultural Education Area Teacher 27 $54,783
Agricultural Education Young Farmer 58 $117,682
CTAE Young Farmers/Area Teachers 85 $172,465
GNETS Teachers 407 $825,335
GNETS Parapro 407 $825,335
GNETS Supervisor 53 $107,294
GNETS Psychologist 26 $53,647
GNETS Social Worker 53 $107,293
GNETS Clerical 53 $107,293
GNETS Director 24 $48,696
GNETS 1,023 $2,074,893
RESAs Math Mentor 16 $32,464
RESAs School Climate 16 $32,464
RESAs ETC Services 16 $32,464
RESAs ELA 16 $32,464
RESAs Director, Secretary, Bookkeeper, Consultant 128 $259,712
RESAs 192 $389,568
Non-Certified Staff
Formula Non-Certified Positions (formula funded counts) Count Supplement and FICA @ 0.0765
Nutrition Nutrition FTEs 13,290 $28,613,370
Custodians (Full Time) Custodians 9,095 $19,581,535
Pupil Transportation (Bus Counts) Bus Drivers 11,290 $24,307,370
Non Certified Positions Total 33,675 $72,502,275
Total AFY $2K Supplement to Districts $366,984,504
*Small adjustments added on top of formulas in final supplement calculation column to reflect rounded totals by district
January 2026