School District Faces $2M Pay Gap | Wilmington News

Wilmington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 8, 2026 · 1m

New Hanover County Schools braces for a $2 million pay gap as state funding covers only state-funded staff, forcing the district to foot the rest — including bonuses up to $1,750 — to ensure fair pay across all employees. Superintendent Dr. Barnes hopes to cover most of the shortfall with last year’s budget savings, though he’s awaiting final payroll data. Teachers see average 8% raises, with new hires getting more. To offset rising costs, the board approved modest fee hikes: facility rentals and school meals. They also rolled out a new student conduct policy limiting filming during school…