The Cumberland County Board of Education, at its March 26 meeting, advanced the 2026-27 school budget by approving $11.8 million for employee insurance. Following consultant advice, the board set the total insurance amount first, allowing Director of Schools Rebecca Farley to select the best plan within the budget (up from her initial $11.7 million recommendation, covering roughly a 9.9% rate increase). Jon Matthews opposed the approach for limiting discussion of specific plans, while Shannon Stout suggested alternatives like an on-site no-copay employee clinic to reduce absenteeism.

The board also unanimously approved a $1 step increase for classified pay scales (with adjustments raising secretaries to $16.17/hour and certain custodians to $13.49/hour), longevity projections ($38,490 increase), a $2,000 raise for non-certified supervisors and Safe School counselors, the certified supervisors/principals supplement scale, and substitute pay at $100/day for classified and $135/day for certified substitutes.

The full meeting is available on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgkYM2Ovt1U