At the April 11 Board of Education Meeting Mark Pettitt asked his colleagues to support expediting the monetary supplement made available to teachers and staff by Governor Kemp and the General Assembly.

"Out of control inflation is hurting everyone, including our incredible employees," Pettitt said. "It would be my intent to ask this Board to dip into reserves and provide our team members with the supplements this month, ahead of receiving any state reimbursements."

The motion carried unanimously.

"I am grateful for the support of my colleagues on the Board of Education as we continue to put our teachers and staff members first," Pettitt remarked. "Our HallCo Heroes have worked tirelessly to keep schools open for in-person instruction while many districts closed their doors, and we appreciate each and every one of them."

While the state has included funds for teachers and some staff to receive a one time supplement of $2,000, it has been the practice of the Hall County Board of Education to be as inclusive as possible when showing appreciation for team members. The funds will appear on April paychecks, and supervisors will soon receive direction on eligibility criteria.