Henry County BOE Votes to Extend Governor's Pay Supplements to All Employees
HENRY COUNTY, GA – Following Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s announcement in December that state employees would receive a $1,000 retention pay supplement, the Henry County Board of Education voted unanimously at its first business meeting of the year on Jan. 8 to extend the payment to all employees.
“The allotment by the state amounts to $4.14 million, covering 3,718 of the district’s 6,000 employees from staffing categories identified within the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula,” said Henry County Schools (HCS) Chief Financial Officer Shanika Clay. “Following the superintendent’s recommendation, we seek to extend a one-time supplement to all staff in acknowledging the role of every employee in promoting a positive learning environment and a high-performance culture across the district.”
The board voted to approve an additional $2.86 million from the general fund for more than 2,000 additional staff members and critically embedded contracted employees such as bus drivers, custodians, substitute teachers, and school resource officers.
The allocation will allow staff considered full-time as of Dec. 18, 2023, with the intent to return this semester, to receive a one-time supplement of $1,000 in their upcoming January paycheck, while part-time and contracted employees will receive a tiered or prorated supplement based on hours worked. Disbursements for contracted staff may vary based on the timelines and payroll processes of each service provider.
“The announcement by Gov. Kemp undoubtedly gave our dedicated, hard-working employees reason to celebrate,” said Board Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “I am proud to vote with my fellow board members to extend this pay supplement to all staff, demonstrating our appreciation for their pursuit of exceptional and our commitment to retaining the best of the best in public education today.”
“Our mantra of ‘Winning for Kids’ depends on every team member in every school and department working tirelessly to support students. The board’s vote to extend the governor’s pay supplement is a tangible acknowledgment of the hard work, dedication, and contributions of all staff,” added HCS Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis. “This investment reflects the board’s commitment to ensuring HCS students continue to have the best teachers and staff in the profession today.”
Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the pay supplement.
Additionally, full videos and highlights of previous board meetings may be accessed at www.henry.k12.ga.us.
About Henry County Schools
Henry County Schools (HCS) is the eighth-largest school district in Georgia, consisting of 52 schools, including two academies, located about 20 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Over the past 20 years, our community has grown in population from 113,000 residents to over 244,000 residents. Since 1999, student enrollment has grown from 21,000 to 43,000 students, and our number of employees has grown from 3,000 to 6,000.
HCS is “In Pursuit of Exceptional,” taking action to advance opportunities, access, and outcomes so that every student in our school district has Exceptional Support, Exceptional Access, and an Exceptional Future. In 2020, our Board of Education adopted our 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan and laid out a clear vision and mission for Henry County Schools. Our vision is to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and our mission is to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society.
