Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 10, 1995 TAG: 9503100082
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A salary committee recommended Thursday night that the county provide an average raise of 4 percent for its teachers: a 3 percent cost-of-living increase, and a 1 percent step increase.
Salaries for many county teachers will remain higher than those in Roanoke under the proposal, particularly for teachers with less than 13 years of experience.
However, the pay for some city teachers, including some with more than 15 years of experience, will be above the county's under the salary scale that was adopted by the city School Board earlier this week.
There are wide differences in the two salary scales at some points.
County school officials made no mention of Bowers' proposal as they briefed the School Board on the proposed raises.
Personnel director Berkley Lucas said the new salary scale was developed by a committee that included teachers and administrators.
Lucas, chairman of the committee, said the plan eliminates tiers so that teachers receive a step raise for each additional year they teach.
It also provides an additional salary boost for veteran teachers.
Chairman Frank Thomas said he likes the new plan, especially the elimination of the tiers and the institution of a longevity step for veteran teachers.
Under the tiers, teachers with differing years of experience received the same salary.
The salary committee also recommended a five-year plan for improving salaries. The plan calls for county salaries to meet or exceed the national average for teachers' salaries. The county is about $1,800 below the national average now.
Another goal calls for the county to rank in the top 25 school divisions in the state in all salary categories. It now ranks from 26th to 68th, depending on the category.
The School Board adopted the plan, saying it will provide a guide on salary issues in the future.
``We can't do it all in one year, but we have something that we can work for,'' Thomas said. ``These are ambitious goals, but I think they are obtainable.''
He said he is particularly concerned about bringing county salaries up to the national average.
The board took no action on the salary recommendations, but it is expected to approve them March 23 when it acts on the proposed school budget.
The $77.4 million budget is $4.6 million higher than this year's. The proposed raises for teachers and all other school employees will cost $2.2 million. Other large budget increases include facilities and operations, $699,121; debt service, $597,178; and $273,466 for reserve for maintenance, buses and technical support.
by CNB