The Roanoke County School Board approved a revised pay plan and a budget amendment that together incorporate employee pay increases, new allocations for technology and program items, and the return of a dual‑enrollment tuition charge to the student fee schedule.

Director of Finance Susan Peterson presented the budget revision, which increases the previously adopted budget by about $4.6 million. Peterson told the board the revision includes roughly $3.3 million in additional state revenue, $597,284 in revenue sharing from Roanoke County, and the reintroduction of $75,000 in dual‑enrollment tuition revenue that had previously been removed pending state action. Peterson said the board had previously removed dual‑enrollment fees in anticipation of state changes, but those changes did not fully materialize.

On the expenditure side, Peterson said the revision sets aside roughly $3.7 million for a 3% scale shift that resulted in a 4.6% raise for employees not at the top of the pay scales. The amendment also funds a technology replacement plan transfer, an add‑on to the Raptor threat‑assessment program, a $81,000 purchase of AI software for teacher and student use with privacy protections, a $24,002.50 HVAC apprentice position, additional athletic allotments (about $7,600 per high school and $2,400 per middle school), and $250,000 in a CSA (Comprehensive Services Act) transfer tied to county revenue sharing.

Peterson also explained the administration’s recommended supplemental payment for employees at or above the top of the scale: a one‑time $1,000 longevity stipend for eligible employees, at a total cost of $87,210. The remainder is to be covered by projected payroll lapses; Peterson said the division expects to budget negative payroll laps of approximately $60,008 to balance the revision.

Earlier on the agenda the board approved a separate pay‑plan revision for 2025–26 that implements a 3% increase “for all steps and grades throughout the entire plan.” The board voted to approve both the pay plan and the budget revision in public votes recorded in the meeting.

On the student fee schedule, the board voted to add back a maximum dual‑enrollment tuition charge of $43 per credit hour. Peterson said the fee will be listed on the student fee schedule and that the budget reflects the $75,000 in expected revenue from that reinstated charge.

Board members discussed the distribution of raises and a board member urged parity for long‑service employees, arguing that senior staff should receive equivalent scale adjustments. The transcript records the comment but the board ultimately voted to approve the revisions presented by staff.

The budget revision will be provided to the county for its subsequent second reading and adoption; Peterson said the county had scheduled its second reading for the following Tuesday.