Chesapeake pay raise plan aims to match division with peers

Chesapeake

A consulting firm says school employees need a 4.2 percent raise to keep salaries competitive with surrounding school divisions and local government jobs.

School officials plan to implement the increase, which will cost $12.5 million, over three years.

A school salary study is conducted every three years in Chesapeake to make sure pay is competitive with surrounding school divisions. The most recent survey, presented to the school board last week, also examined whether pay is equitable between administrative and classified employees. School officials also compare city government salaries because in many fields, such as technology and finance, the agencies are competing for the same employees.

Officials said the surveys have helped the division remain competitive. Since the last survey, in 2004- 05, starting teacher salaries have increased 14.7 percent and administrative and classified salaries have increased 9 percent.

According to the recent survey, Chesapeake pay is competitive with other divisions until employees reach the higher steps on the pay scale.

The base pay for a teacher with 27 years of experience in Virginia Beach is $61,620; in Chesapeake, a teacher with the same experience earns $58,566.

Consultants recommended a 4.2 percent raise for all employees and proposed that some job titles be reclassified. Chesapeake will raise the entire pay scale by 1.4 percent each year until it reaches the 4.2 percent mark.

For a new teacher with no experience, the starting salary is $38,540. That will rise to $40,159. For teachers with 27 years of experience, their salary would grow $2,460 to $61,026.

The teacher pay scale goes up to 27 years of experience. After that, teachers get "cost of living" raises.

In addition to the annual 1.4 percent increase, teachers will receive their annual pay raise, which has yet to be announced for the 2008-09 school year. Last year, the division gave a 3.25 percent raise.

Assistant Superintendent James Roberts suggested the board phase in the raises over three years because it is too costly to do at one time. Past salary study recommendations also were phased in.

The salary increase plan will cost about $4.2 million annually. All of the pay increases will be included in the superintendent's 2008- 09 proposed operating budget. It is expected to be released in February.

Amy Couteé, (757) 222-5216, amy.coutee@pilotonline.com