By Yujia Song
Budget proposals from the state House of Delegates and the Senate are split over the increase in teacher salaries, but neither matches the five percent raise that local schools have hoped for.
On Feb. 19, both houses passed biennial budget plans for the fiscal years 2006-2008. The House Appropriations Committee recommended a three percent raise for public school teachers, while the Senate Finance Committee proposed four percent.
A five percent increase in teacher salaries would amount to $405,552. However, the Senate proposal would total only $170,000 and the House about $120,000 for salary increases in the local school district.
Part of the shortfall could be resolved using other portions of state funds, said Carol Wheeler, director of finance for Rockbridge County Schools. The remaining difference “is going to come from the local government,” she said.
Wheeler said a five percent raise was “not unrealistic.” In fact, Rockbridge County is only aiming for the median position on the teacher salary scale of regional school districts, according to Rockbridge County School Superintendent John Burks.
In 2006, Rockbridge ranked eighth out of 16 comparable school districts, in salaries for teachers with 10 years of experience. It was ranked 11th in minimum salaries and 14th in maximum salaries.
Wheeler said the proposed teacher salary increase was based on increases projected by similar school districts. Most asked for a seven percent increase, whereas some proposed six or five percent.
Salaries at Rockbridge schools lag far behind many other schools in the country. According to a teacher salary survey done by the Virginia Department of Education, actual teacher salaries in the Rockbridge school district averaged $36,870 in 2005, almost $11,000 less than the national average.
Teachers are satisfied with what the school board is doing, said Michelle Hughes, the co-president of the Rockbridge Education Association. “[Local school officials] are doing a fabulous job…in utilizing what they are given [from the state and local governments].” The problem is that the state does not supply enough funding to the locality, she said.
Wheeler agrees. “The state never supports increases in teacher salary adequately” she said.
In the coming weeks, a joint committee will resolve the differences in the House and Senate proposals before finalizing the state budget by March 11.
The school board will then have another work session on the budget with updated information on state funding. Wheeler said she hopes to present the final budget before the board on April 3.
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming
Editing supervisor: Prof. Pamela Luecke
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd