JACKSON – Thanks to some frugal money management on behalf of the finance committee and the Northampton County Board of Education, Central Office employees of the County’s Public Schools will soon be seeing a three percent increase in their paychecks.

The increase, which is the first of its kind in four years, was voted on by consensus during Monday evening’s Board meeting along with new position guidelines and salary schedules to be used in determining a regular pay scale designed to help prevent similar occurrences in the future.

&uot;Before, we were not in a position to administer the pay increases the Central Office employees deserved because our funds simply would not support it,&uot; said Finance Chair Roland Whitted. &uot;But, thankfully, we are finally able to provide that now.&uot;

The newly approved measure would include a pay scale directly correlated with revised requirements, allowing administrative salaries to be determined based on number of years experience and whether or not certification had been secured.

&uot;I want to commend the finance committee for their hard work and dedication and for being good stewards of the money entrusted to them,&uot; said Board Chair Catherine Moody.

Funds to support the three percent increase will come from the Board of Education budget.

Board members also authorized the child nutrition department to seek bids for some new and updated equipment, including a new van, with total expenditures not permitted to exceed $161,900, allowing no more than $25,000 for the van, which would be used for food transport.

The department supervisor is expected to report findings and present a proposed requisition to the Board for approval. To date, the department has been using a maintenance van to meet its needs.

In addition to those decisions, Assistant Superintendent Phil Matthews updated the Board on the bond project expenses for the construction of the new school facility to be located on Highway 305 between Jackson and Seaboard.

In his report, Matthews stated that a total of $20,000 had been paid for the land option, a cost that will be used toward the purchase price of the land with an additional $1,650 towards a land use survey. An additional $1,200 will be used on a topographical map of the property with $6,400 to be used on Phase I of the environmental study for the Central Office and new school and $950 towards a topographical map and survey for the Central Office.

&uot;We want the public to know that we are spending the money the way the voters chose for us to when they voted in favor of this bond,&uot; said Board member Lafayette &uot;Lot&uot; Majette, who requested Matthews’ report on the progress.

A portion of the bond money will also be used to address roof renovations at Jackson-Eastside Elementary gymnasium, Garysburg Elementary and Northampton County High School East.

In other business, Northampton Superintendent James Pickens updated the board on the status of a project to make Northampton County Public School’s information available online. Date of accessibility is still pending.

The Board is scheduled to meet again in closed session on Monday, December 6 at 5:30 p.m. with open session starting at 6:30 p.m.