Gwinnett County Board of Education — FY2027 Second Board Budget Work Session, April 16, 2026

Tentative Adoption of the FY2027 Budget

approved · Vote: 4-1 · $3,534,459,092 · watch at 0:59

Teacher and Staff Compensation Comparisons

· watch at 0:09

Dr. Adrienne Simmons requested a comparison of teacher salary schedules, bus managers, athletic coaches, and paraprofessionals with other metro Atlanta school districts. Chief Human Resources Officer Chief Horning responded that Gwinnett County Public Schools currently falls in the middle of metro districts for teacher salaries.

School-by-School Budget Transparency Tool

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Dr. Adrienne Simmons inquired about a publicly accessible report or tool that details how budget dollars are allocated to individual schools. Chief Financial Officer Ms. Mclard stated that the tool is currently in development, with prototypes expected by late April or early May, and a public launch planned before the end of the fiscal year.

Central Office Savings and Budget Reductions

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Mr. Steve Gasper asked for clarification on the $18.4 million in central office savings and how those reductions were achieved. Ms. Mclard explained that the savings resulted from a hiring freeze on non-essential vacant positions, software system consolidations, and other non-personnel efficiencies across divisions.

Substitute Teacher Pay and Recruitment

· watch at 0:15

Mr. Steve Gasper requested a comparison of substitute teacher pay with other metro districts. Chief Horning responded that GCPS has a strong substitute pool of approximately 4,000 subs with a 90% fill rate, and noted that the district recently increased incentive pay based on the number of days worked.

Capital Projects Fund Budget Decrease

· watch at 0:28

Ms. Rachel Ruffin Stone asked about the 20.7% decrease in the Capital Projects Fund budget compared to the previous year. Ms. Mclard explained that the decrease is primarily due to the completion of major construction projects, such as Murphy Middle School, meaning the district is not currently building another new school.

Mental Health Staffing and Social Worker Allocations

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Ms. Rachel Ruffin Stone asked about the addition of four social workers and how mental health staff are distributed across the district. Interim Chief Neblett explained that the new positions are funded by a federal grant, bringing the total to 54 social workers (two per cluster), with the new additions allocated to clusters with the highest data-driven needs.

Cafeteria Food Quality and Dietary Options

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Ms. Rachel Ruffin Stone shared student feedback requesting fresher food options, more appetizing meals, and expanded dietary accommodations such as halal meats. Interim Chief Burke noted that the district is working with student menu committees to expand culturally sensitive options and is leveraging new school nutrition grant funding to drive innovation.

Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Expansion

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Ms. Rachel Ruffin Stone requested updates on expanding the Dual Language Immersion program, noting that at least one school had expressed strong interest. District staff explained that they are currently reviewing school requests and capacity with cluster leaders, with one specific school program move currently under consideration.

After-School Transportation and Credit Recovery Barriers

· watch at 0:28

Ms. Rachel Ruffin Stone raised concerns that students cannot participate in after-school credit recovery or extracurriculars due to lack of transportation. Chief Neblett and Mr. Burke explained that the district has expanded daytime credit recovery options and is exploring targeted transportation solutions, though adding a fifth tier of bus routing is currently constrained by driver and dispatch resources.

Portable Classroom (Trailer) Removal

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Ms. Rachel Ruffin Stone asked about the district's plans and budget alignment for removing portable trailers from school sites. Mr. Burke responded that the facilities team is partnering with school improvement leaders to measure capacity consistently and target trailer removals, particularly during upcoming redistricting cycles.

International Transition Center (ITC) and Newcomer Center

· watch at 0:48

Mr. Steven Knudsen asked about potential expansions for the International Transition Center and the International Newcomer Center. Dr. Al Taylor explained that ITC enrollment has decreased significantly, so they are maintaining current units while planning long-term solutions, while the Newcomer Center has successfully expanded family literacy and English classes.