Budget Information for Employees

Budget Information for Employees, December 15, 2025

Hello, employees.  Please take a moment to read this important information.

As you may know already, a number of school systems across North Carolina are experiencing budgetary constraints – Gaston County Schools is not immune to this unfortunate situation.  Further, not having a state budget has created uncertainty about what state funds will be made available to school systems, once the N.C. General Assembly approves a budget.

Our budget-related concerns are related to the following:

■ Gaston County Schools has experienced a reduction in “Low Wealth Supplemental Funds” – this is money provided by the state to school systems in counties that do not have the ability to generate enough revenue to support public schools at the state average level.  Our reduction is $7.2 million – this is a result of the most recent property tax valuation, which makes Gaston County wealthier, and therefore, based on a legislated formula, Gaston County Schools is not entitled to the same amount of “Low Wealth Supplemental Funds” that was provided in previous years.  

■ Gaston County Schools, like other school systems, has experienced a reduction in the number of students (about 400) when comparing the 2024-2025 school year to the 2025-2026 school year.  The state allocates funds per student, and having 400 fewer students will have an impact on our budget for 2026-2027.  

These two factors – combined with no additional funds to address inflation as well as higher costs for employer-paid benefits (such as health insurance and retirement for employees) – have created budgetary concerns for Gaston County Schools.  

Therefore, Gaston County Schools has made a difficult, yet fiscally responsible decision to implement a temporary hiring freeze, effective immediately and until further notice.  Positions that are deemed critical/high priority or required by state legislation may be filled with approval from Human Resources.  For example, bus drivers and positions in the area of exceptional children are considered critical.  The hiring freeze applies to all schools and central office-level departments.

We realize a hiring freeze places a staffing hardship on the school system.  However, it is necessary at this time to ensure that we can continue the employment of our current employees.  We are committed to supporting our current employees, and school system leadership will work to develop strategies that lessen the burden of the hiring freeze as much as possible.

Thank you for your continued good and important work for Gaston County Schools; we value and appreciate your diligent efforts every single day, and we are proud to have you in our school family.