Comment on Effingham school raises may be cut to hire assistant band directors

The Effingham Board of Education is trying to figure out a way to pay for an assistant band director at each of the county’s three middle schools and still give teachers 5-percent bonuses and other personnel 5-percent raises. Board member Beth Helmly said at the board’s June 3 meeting that the three new assistant band director positions could be funded if the bonuses and raises were smaller. The most recent version of the budget, which board members tentatively approved on May 21, calls for the 5-percent bonuses and 5-percent raises. “I’m not saying they don’t deserve” the raises and bonuses, Helmly said.