Thawing the teacher pay scale that’s been frozen for five years in York County had support during a public hearing Monday on Superintendent Eric Williams’ proposed $128.5 million budget for 2014-15.
Carol Bauer, a fourth grade teacher who also is the division’s National Education Association representative, told board members she was happy with the proposed pay increase but seeking more from division spending in the future. Bauer said teachers need more work days and smaller class sizes in addition to increased pay.
Bauer said when many class sizes range from 28 to 30 students per teacher, it means 10 to 12 minutes of class time per student. Doing the simple math, she said, left each child and teacher with one-on-one time that breaks down to four minutes for reading, four for math, two for history and two for science. She likened the needs of students and teachers to the lessons she teaches about Jamestown and the desperate affairs settlers went through during the “starving time.”
“Jamestown was saved because the supply ships came in,” Bauer said.
Chuck Cooper, a Yorktown resident and member of York County’s PTA Executive Board, said at Monday’s public hearing he was happy the school division was trying to restore pay step increases to teachers but he thought arts should be just as much a focus in schools as science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Cooper also said he hopes to see future technology spending focused on cloud-based processes, online storage that allows collaborative work.
Williams’ proposed budget for next year details a $2.9 million increase in what the division is asking York County supervisors to contribute. The proposed increase would mean a total county contribution of $53 million, a 5.8 percent increase over last year’s contribution.
At a recent joint meeting between York County supervisors and the school board, County Administrator James McReynolds said he didn’t anticipate increasing the real estate tax rate, much of which is used to fund the school division. Last year, the school division faced a $1.2 million budget gap after a last-minute decision by supervisors to approve a lower tax rate increase than McReynolds proposed.
School board members hope in the coming budget year, which begins July 1, to be able to restore a pay step to teachers with an additional step going to teachers who have been with the division for all five years of the freeze, about 683 of all 892 division teachers.
To improve pay, a consulting company suggested a new pay scale that would increase teachers’ salaries by an average of $423 per pay step and unfreeze the pay grade.
Though a state funding formula shows York County with ample money to pay into its public education system, York County consistently spends less per student than peer localities do on their K-12 education. Despite lower spending per student, the division consistently ranks in the top third for student performance on Standards of Learning exams.
In a recent joint meeting between the county and school division, County Supervisor Thomas Shepperd said the low spending and high performance exhibited by the school division showed it was doing a good job with the resources on hand.
Both Williams and school board chairman Mark Medford have said the division’s cost effectiveness gives it credibility when it asks for more money from the county, like the $2.9 million it needs this year.
The school board awaits a March 18 presentation by County Administrator James McReynolds on York County’s proposed 2015 budget.
Related Coverage:
- York Superintendent’s Proposed Budget Asks County for 5.8 Percent Funding Increase
- York Superintendent’s Preliminary Budget Includes Employee Compensation Increase
- CFO: Budget Outlook Uncertain for York County Schools
- YCSD in Need of Disability Resources, Administrator Says
- YCSD Needs More Time to Consider Teacher Pay Scale Increase Options
