Houston County Schools extends superintendent’s contract, OKs tentative FY27 budget

Nearly one year into his tenure, Richard Rogers has received a contract extension as superintendent of the Houston County School District.

The Houston County Board of Education unanimously approved a one-year contract extension Tuesday for Rogers, extending his term to three years. “We dove into, last year, of Dr. Rogers serving as superintendent for the Houston County School District, and overall, it was outstanding,” board member Jon Nichols said before making the motion to approve the amended contract. “I just want to say thank you, Dr. Rogers, for your outstanding work this year in a lot of ways.”

Nichols said the vote would extend Roger’s contract, at present, to three years.

The district did not specify the exact end date of the extension through the amended contract.

Rogers became superintendent of Houston County School District in June 2025 after superintendent Mark Scott resigned. Rogers, who held several teaching and leadership roles in the district since he joined in 2004, was the sole finalist in the district’s superintendent search.

Board approves tentative budget, millage rate

The Houston County Board of Education on Monday tentatively approved a fiscal year 2027 budget totaling $654.5 million and voted to keep the school system’s property tax rate unchanged, following its first required public budget hearing.

No speakers addressed the board in opposition to the proposed budget. One person, HCSD Chief Financial Officer Michelle Morris, spoke in favor and presented the plan’s details.

For the tentative FY 2027 budget, Morris outlined the district’s general fund budget with $481.4 million in revenue, $476.3 million in expenditures and an ending fund balance of $80.5 million.

She said the projected fund balance represents about two months of operating expenditures, or roughly 17% of the general fund budget.

The budget also funds a 2% cost-of-living increase for all applicable employees and a $1,000 supplement to be paid in November 2026.

“As a result of the 2% cost of living, our beginning teachers will be paid 20.4 percent higher than the Georgia State salary scale, and up to 32 percent for more experienced and higher degreed certified employees,” Morris said, pointing that it aids teacher retention.

The board also unanimously approved to tentatively set the 2026 calendar year millage rate at 11.719 mills, unchanged from the current rate. Board member Lori Johnson noted that the Houston County school millage rate has remained unchanged or decreased for the past 18 years, dating back to 2008.

The district expects to receive the final 2026 tax digest from the county tax commissioner in July.

At that time, the proposed actual millage rate will be calculated, reviewed, and submitted to the board, the district said.

Board members are expected to give final approval to the budget June 23 following a second public hearing, according to the district’s website.

The district expects to receive the final 2026 tax digest from the county tax commissioner in July.