Franklin BOE Approves Bonus Supplemental Funding for Governor’s Retention Bonus

The Franklin County Board of Education has voted to approve a supplement to the monies allotted by the State for a $1,000 bonus to teachers.

At a press conference on December 18, Governor Brian Kemp announced the bonus for all State employees as well as for K-12 public school teachers.

“I’m proud to say this payment will also include our K-12 educators who are now paid at or near the highest pay level in the entire Southeast as a result of pay raises we instituted over the past five years,” he said.

However, at their work session earlier this month, School Superintendent Melanie Burton-Brown pointed out they did not receive enough funding from the State to cover the $1,000 bonus for all school employees.

At their meeting this month, Burton-Brown asked the Board to approve extra funding out of the budget to cover the shortfall.

“Governor Kemp’s retention bonus was funded for 376 employees. The District currently employs 505 staff members. We did not receive funding for 129 employees plus their FICA. So at this time, I recommend the approval of an expenditure in the amount of $140,000 to fully fund the Governor’s $1,000 retention supplement,” she told the Board.

After hearing from the Superintendent, the Board voted unanimously to approve the supplemental funding to cover the $1,000 bonus for all school system employees.