Douglas County teachers and staff will receive their first-ever semimonthly paycheck on Jan. 16.

Previously, they received paychecks monthly. The school system will join a small handful of school systems across the state paying employees twice a month. Of the 181 school districts across the state, fewer than 10 districts pay teachers and staff twice a month.

With the support of the Board of Education, Superintendent Trent North successfully implemented the new payroll structure less than six months after beginning his new leadership position. North says it was an idea introduced to him by employees who asked about the feasibility of semimonthly pay.

“After conducting a survey of our employees, I found that the majority of our 3,000 employees felt it was time to reassess the current pay frequency. Increasing the frequency of pay allows our employees more control and flexibility with their finances. As the school superintendent, it is important to listen to the needs of our employees and find solutions to increase their level of job satisfaction.”

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Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport domestic terminal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, the first day of the Federal Aviation Administration cutting flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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