Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools budget approved over teacher raise objections
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ Board of Education voted 5-3 to approve its new nearly $2.1 billion budget for next school year over objections that it doesn’t raise teacher pay enough.
After what district leadership has called a “tight” budget cycle, the proposal includes an average 5% pay increase for teachers, funded by the county, despite calls from community members and some board members for higher raises. That’s on top of an assumed 3% pay increase from the state. It will now head to Mecklenburg County commissioners for final approval.
“This budget is strategic, responsible and focused on maintaining services while investing in staff, students and technology,” the board said in an open letter accompanying the budget Tuesday. “We have reduced or eliminated funding for programs and expenses that have less direct impact on student outcomes or district goals to free up resources for initiatives with stronger alignment and measurable results.”
However, three board members voted “no”: Melissa Easley, Lisa Cline and Summer Nunn. They said it was because the proposed increase to teacher pay is too low.
“The budget only asks for a 5% increase to local supplements, which isn’t enough,” Easley said. “I believe we must ask the county for a 10% increase... Teachers should not be priced out of living in the communities they serve.”
Cline agreed. She stressed her concern about losing teachers to other districts both in and out of the state that pay more.
“CMS cannot keep teachers in the district on this salary,” she said. “I cannot support a budget that does not support our teachers.”
North Carolina currently ranks 48th in the nation for school funding, according to the Education Law Center. Despite a growing economy and tax base, the state currently spends almost $5,000 less per student than the national average and trails behind neighboring South Carolina and Virginia.
Other board members agreed that teachers are not paid enough, but they said the state bears responsibility for salary increases.
“We must ask for more money because our teachers deserve it, but we must not absolve the General Assembly of its responsibility,” said CMS Board Chair Stephanie Sneed. “We cannot supplement our way out of this... We need to put the pressure on our General Assembly.”
Vice Chair Dee Rankin agreed.
“Our local officials on the Mecklenburg County County Commission have been supporting us over the last few years, and we appreciate that,” said Rankin. “But, I think now it’s time to hold the General Assembly accountable to do what they’ve been charged to do, which is fund public education.”
Cline and Easley, who typically fall on opposite ends of issues, both agreed the General Assembly needs to step up. But, they argued, Mecklenburg County can also do more.
“The worst they’re gonna say is ‘no,’” Cline said, about asking for more from the county. “But if we don’t ask, we’ll never move any farther.”
The budget request to the county includes an increase of about $28.3 million over the county’s current investment this school year. The vast majority of that, about $26.3 million, is earmarked for teacher and staff salaries. If approved by Mecklenburg County commissioners, it would bring the county’s total appropriation for CMS’ operating budget to $667.6 million.
Math I bonus
One controversial element of the budget is performance-based bonuses for some high school math teachers. While proponents say it addresses the board’s goal of increasing Math I scores, opponents argue it alienates other teachers.
The new bonus program would target the district’s 14 high schools that receive federal Title I funding — schools with a high number of economically disadvantaged students. It would be paid for with Title I funds.
The maximum bonus would be $15,250. It could apply to 32 educators and 960 students at the 14 schools. Leaders didn’t rule out expanding the program down the line, however.
“The Math I Excellence Bonus is an incentive designed to increase the quality of math instruction and reward educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching,” CMS executive director of federal programs Elenia Daniels said at a board meeting March 11. “This bonus is for teachers who have demonstrated the ability to move the needle in terms of student outcomes.”
Easley, a former teacher, argued the bonus would be bad for overall morale.
Even though the budget passed, the board will vote on the bonus separately at a later date when it looks at how the district will spend federal funding. At least two board members – Cline and Easley – said Tuesday that they don’t support the Math I bonuses.
Federal funding
All three of the district’s three primary funding sources — the state, the county and federal grants — are expected to see shortfalls this year. The district has already lost some of its federal funding, and other grants are potentially in limbo.
CMS expects $117.3 million in federal funding in fiscal year 2025-26, according to CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill’s budget proposal, down 27.8% from this year. Most of that reduction is a result of the expiration of COVID relief funding.
The district also lost over $6 million in federal grant funding earlier this year for teacher training initiatives. The Department of Education claimed the funds went toward diversity, equity and inclusion programming. With the potential dissolution of the federal Department of Education, some worry more federal funding cuts are coming down the pipe.
A large portion of the district’s federal funding comes from Title I grant funds. This year, 105 of the district’s total 186 schools are Title I. During the 2025-26 school year, that number is expected to drop to 103 schools.
In the proposed 2025-26 budget, Hill only allocated 65% of the district’s expected Title I allocation, in anticipation of funding cuts or delays with a federal Department of Education in flux.
The district expects $49.5 million in Title I funds during the 2025-26 school year. Most of that money is tied to salaries. This year, over 10% of the district’s approximately 19,000 employees are paid using Title I funds.
Moreover, the district gets $16 million for special education services through Medicaid. Potential Medicaid cuts from Congress could spell decreases to that funding.
Still, Hill stressed it’s not time to panic.
“At this point in time, we’ve heard rumors that there will be cuts, but we have no clue what those cuts could be,” Hill said Tuesday. “If it’s communicated to us that we will lose federal funds, we’ll get that notification, work with our internal and external teams and look at the whole budget and figure out what would be the least detrimental to the student experience.”
However, some board members asked for more specific contingency plans for the potential loss of federal funds.
“I’m seriously concerned about our Title II and III monies,” Cline said. “I expect we’ll see federal cuts. It’s a fact... You always have to have a backup plan, and I’ve not heard anything of a plan B or any contingencies except tonight for Title I.”
District leaders presented plans for how to spend CMS’ federal funds this year at Tuesday’s meeting, but the board will not vote on those specific plans in May.
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM.
