The 2021-2022 state budget approved by the North Carolina General Assembly includes salary increases and bonuses for public school employees whose salaries are covered by state funding.
Acting Superintendent Keith Sutton discussed what the budget will mean for Warren County school employees at the December meeting of the Warren County Board of Education using information compiled by the State Board of Education / Department of Public Instruction.
According to the State Board/DPI, all teachers and most instructional support staff will be raised one step on the state pay scale and will receive a 1.3% increase. Psychologists, speech pathologists and audiologists will receive a state supplement of $350 per month. Advisors will receive a state supplement of $100 per month.
Sutton also told the board that $100 million in statewide funding will go toward teacher supplement awards in school districts in low-wealth counties, and $4.3 million in statewide funding. from the state will be allocated to signing bonuses for teachers of low and/or low wealth. counties.
The state budget includes the following bonuses for teachers and educational support staff:
• $300 for school system employees employed on January 1, 2022 whose salaries are publicly funded.
• $1,000 for school system employees employed on January 1, 2022 who have completed COVID training.
• All public school employees will receive $1,000. Employees earning less than $75,000 will receive an additional $500.
• Performance bonuses for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate Organization, Advanced International Certificate of Education and industry credentials will be up to $3,500.
Salaries for deputy principals would follow the teacher salary scale increased by 19%. The main salary grids would increase by 2.5%.
Directors employed on January 1, 2022 whose salaries are publicly funded would receive a bonus of $1,800.
The 2021-22 state budget also raises wages for uncertified staff (such as administrative assistants, custodial workers, food service workers and bus drivers) to a minimum of $13 per hour. Sutton said that includes substitutes. The state will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2022-23.
Central office employees will receive a 2.5% raise.
