Board approves pay raises for teachers, bus drivers, workers

When a teacher reaches year 20, by the new schedule, they receive a 6 percent pay raise. In the past it has been two or three percent, Schneider said.

"That's where two-thirds of our teachers are," Schneider said. "We're saying, if you've been with us for five years, and you've invested that time in us, at year six we are going to invest more in you."

Superintendent Alton Frailey said that while starting salaries are important for recruiting, this new strategy will support the bulk of the district's teaching staff.

"We're very excited by trying to hit the bulk of our staff with an increase," Frailey said. "We don't really have a problem with folks wanting to come here but we don't want to take advantage of that by not providing adequate compensation."

Voting on a salary schedule for the coming year, in itself, will help to recruit new teachers.

"There are still teaching positions for the coming year that are not yet filled," Frailey said. "Having a definitive schedule will help out tremendously, not to mention the budget process as we work into July and August."

The district raised the minimum pay for many of its auxiliary workers one dollar per hour. There are approximately 350 such employees but not all were working at the minimum, Schneider said.

The board also approved a $2.50 per hour increase for bus drivers, bringing the minimum rate to $16.25 per hour. For most drivers that works out to about $2,200 more per year, he said.

"We analyzed many different options of what we could do to help our recruitment in that area," Schneider said. "We feel like this is the best move at this point."