County schools propose significant pay boosts for arts, athletics departments

By Ruben Lowman

Horry County Schools Superintendent Clifford Jones has introduced a new proposal aimed at increasing supplemental pay for coaches, band directors and arts educators across the district.

During a school board work session last Wednesday, March 18, Jones detailed a plan that focuses on standardizing compensation and providing better support for staff members who manage programs outside of regular instructional hours.

The proposal sets a new minimum for athletic supplements at $2,000 and includes pay raises for 17 different athletic categories to ensure greater consistency throughout the district’s various sports programs, officials said.

The plan also addresses long-standing disparities in arts funding by standardizing and increasing supplements for elementary, middle and high school arts positions to $2,500.

This change specifically impacts band directors, chorus directors and theatre directors, recognizing the significant time required for rehearsals, competitions and community performances.

Additionally, the district plans to introduce an assistant band supplement for marching band programs with more than 75 students, acknowledging the increased logistical coordination and technical supervision necessary for larger ensembles such as these.

A key highlight of the superintendent’s proposal is the creation of a dedicated middle school athletic director supplement.

Historically, high school athletic directors have been responsible for overseeing middle school sports within their attendance zones, a practice Jones described as atypical and burdensome.

The new $5,000 supplement will be awarded to an existing staff member at each school who agrees to manage middle school athletic events on-site, providing much-needed relief to high school administrators while ensuring better oversight of junior programs.

Throughout the session, Jones emphasized that transparency is a primary goal of the new budget review process. He stated his intention to make supplemental pay tables as easily accessible as standard salary schedules, allowing the public and staff to clearly see how the district values extracurricular leadership.

As the board continues to discuss the proposal, the focus remains on creating resources that allow both arts and athletic experiences for students to grow, while providing directors with the necessary support to manage the high volume of student participation in Horry County, one of the fastest-growing areas in the entire country.