The Mathews County School Board adopted its amended 2021-2022 budget during Tuesday morning’s special end-of-year meeting, a budget that now includes what amounts to a 5 percent raise for all employees.

Initially, the budget included only a step on the salary scale. In May, the school board also approved a retroactive step for the 2020-2021 school year, to be paid this month. Each step equates roughly to a 1 percent raise. The additional 3 percent increase was made possible thanks to an appropriation of $320,000 from county supervisors at its June 22 meeting.

Supervisors came up with the additional money to allow the school division to take full advantage of the state’s share of funding in support of a 5 percent raise for school Standards of Quality staff over the biennium. Previously, the division was only eligible for a pro-rated share of the state funding.

The school board approved the amended budget by a 3-0 vote, with school board chairman John Priest and members Linda H...