The details
The plan would increase starting salaries for new teachers from $61,000 per year to $63,000. A returning teacher’s pay would increase by $500 every year until a teacher reaches ten years in the district, then annual increases would be $1,000.
Additionally, all staff would receive a 3% pay increase. Under the new plan, certain job types, such as assistant principals, bus drivers, aides and more, would receive pay adjustments to match market considerations.
Also of note
The increase plan will cost about $14.4 million, according to a board presentation. The teacher pay increase cost will be about $9.715 million, while the 3% staff pay increase will cost about $3.1 million and the market adjustments will cost about $6.1 million.
Superintendent Tabatha Branum said the board will formally adopt the plan in June, when the budget is adopted. However, she said the plan may change, depending on what happens in the current Legislative Session.
What else?
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Chris Goodson said the district is working to recruit new teachers by increasing marketing materials and social media posts. The district is also attending job fairs with an emphasis on attracting bilingual teachers and special education teachers.
Also on the agenda
The cost of school lunch will increase by $0.25, according to a presentation by Assistant Superintendent of Finance David Pate. The new cost of school lunch for elementary students will increase from $2.80 to $3.05 while middle and high school lunches will increase from $2.95 to $3.20.
Pate said federal standards require school districts to keep their lunch prices within certain ranges, which is the reason for the increase.
