Lexington County School District One has approved its 2025-26 budget, which totals $401,392,479 and does not include a millage increase. 

The budget includes federal mandates, an Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund cliff (which refers to the drop in funding that was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic), fixed cost increases, Lex One standards, salary study committee recommendations and would-like-to-dos. 

During a presentation, Superintendent-elect Keith Price said the result of the salary study recommendations totaled $12,800,903. He also said that since 2022, teachers' starting salaries have risen from $41,410 to $49,000. This approved budget increases the starting teacher salary to $52,000.

Since 2023, beginning-level support staff salaries have risen from $14.71 per hour to $15.60 per hour in the budget. Beginning bus driver salaries have risen from $19.29 per hour to the approved $20.47 per hour.

In addition, this budget requires an estimated amount of $11 million from the fund balance to be applied in order to balance the budget.

The budget was unanimously approved.

Board members McKenzie Flashnick and Nicholas Pizzuti expressed that approving everything in this year's budget is a one-time deal for them. They both stated they would like to have indicators on what is working in the schools with the new programs and positions approved.

Pizzuti said the increases to the salaries, the addition of assistant principals and athletic allocations are items he is excited to see included in the budget.

Price told board members that the district plans to implement key performance indicators, also known as KPIs, which will track the performance of programs approved in the budget.  

Board member Chris Rice stated he supported this budget, saying, “We’re one team. Whether we’re sitting here in these seats or whether you’re in the classroom, an administrator, even a bus driver. We’re all  here to educate kids and help them become better.”

Here’s a breakdown of what is included in the salary study committee recommendations:

• Teacher starting salary increase ($52,000)
• Support staff salary increase
• Assistant custodians’ salary grade increase
• Increase to number of work days for designated housekeeping positions
• Retention stipends for certified special education educators
• Increase to special education instructional assistants from 7.5 hours to eight hours
• Increase to special education instructional assistant salary grade
• Raised administration salaries
• Increase to number of work days for elementary school assistant principals

Here’s a breakdown of what is included in the would-like-to-do category:

• One full-time phase two assistant principal pilot program (elementary school)
• Addition of one special education academic coach
• Addition of a special education behavior coach
• Addition of four middle school academic interventionists 
• Addition of middle school athletic allocations
• Addition of three middle school assistant principals 
• Addition of five high school assistant principals
• Addition of nine elementary math coaches 
• Addition of one custodial services specialist
• Software cost increase, which includes frontline reporting for human resources
• Addition of a student discipline management system
• Increased high school athletic allocation
• Addition of one middle school behavior interventionist 

The next scheduled regular board meeting is July 14 at 8:45 a.m. and will take place at White Knoll High School, located at 5643 Platt Springs Rd. in Lexington.