Ten-percent staff raise part of Charles City’s Superintendent of Schools $8.9 million budget proposal

Citing nearby county salaries and Charles City’s proximity squeezed between them, Charles City Superintendent of Schools Katina Otey sent a strong message with her first budget presentation to school board members.

Otey proposed a 10-percent staff salary increase as part of an $8,923,281 budget presentation for FY2026-27 during Tuesday night’s Charles City School Board meeting. By comparison, county schools are operating on a budget of $7,201,636 for the current year.

“Teachers come to Charles City, and we are thankful for them,” Otey said. “They choose to be here when they can go elsewhere.”

The superintendent referenced how nearby counties offer salaries that are thousands of dollars more, making it difficult for Charles City to compete. Her proposal for the salary increase for staff would bump the starting pay up to $52,000 for new teachers. In total, a 10-percent raise would equivalate to an additional $840,833 in the budget.

Otey’s budget proposal is centered around compensating teachers and support services. Among those services include two part-time math interventionists at each school ($74,604), a part-time reading interventionist ($74,604), in-school instructional coaches for teacher support ($161,464), an additional math teacher at each school at ($84,874), and stipends for teachers writing curriculum ($34,448).

Regarding equipment and supplies, items proposed include new Social Studies textbooks ($80,000), 200 iPads for primary grades ($69,800), interactive box light doors ($16,000) for security, Hovercam Document Cameras ($8,250), and computer charging carts ($9,000).

Capital Improvement Projects recommended for the school system include the purchase of a new school bus ($160,000), replacement of carpet at the elementary school ($63,173), a seven-passenger van ($40,000), and another school car for transportation ($30,000).

In total, new requests pan out to $1,747,720, which Otey said are needed for strategic growth. She also referenced the county’s Local Composite Increase (LCI) increasing, meaning that state funding is expected to decrease as localities have the capability to pay for more services. According to projects, state funding for Charles City schools is expected to fall from 34 to 29 percent, meaning the county’s appropriation should increase from 54 to 59 percent to balance it.

A proposed public hearing on the school’s budget is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Feb. 5, 6 p.m., with a work session proposed on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The school board plans to approve the budget at their Feb. 17 meeting before proposing it to county leaders at the Mar. 17 Charles City Board of Supervisors meeting.