District moves to the top of the pay-scale for educators in the state
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 27, 2022
BEAUFORT– Beaufort County Council approved tonight the Beaufort County School District’s (BCSD) submitted budget proposal for the 2022-2023 school year. As a result, the salary for BCSD starting teachers is now $45,566 in comparison to $37,928. Coupled with additional supplements, the total compensation package for starting teachers is now $50,066– making BCSD one of the top-paying districts for educators in the state of SC.
Previously, the Board of Education approved a retroactive FY 2022 3% increase that moved BCSD to 40th of 77 school districts in the State for starting teacher salaries. Now that the 2022-2023 proposed budget has passed, BCSD will likely move into the top 5 highest starting teacher salaries in the state, with the goal of securing the #1 spot (to be determined as other districts’ budgets are approved).
The Board of Education (BOE) unanimously approved this budget before submitting to County Council with the intention of attracting and maintaining superior educators and support staff, furthering the District’s commitment to increased student outcomes.
“Every day we are competing with districts across the country to recruit and retain educators,” said Superintendent Frank Rodriguez. “This proves especially difficult given the high cost of living in Beaufort County, but these compensation increases are moving the district in the right direction.”
As part of the newly approved budget, a $4,000 starting teacher salary increase will be applied to all teachers’ base pay. In addition to the $4,000 salary increase, $2,500 of the $5,000 locality supplement will be moved into all teachers’ base pay which means it will not need to be voted on by the BOE annually. The remaining $2,500 will continue to be a locality supplement that will be paid in two installments of $1,250 in December and $1,250 in May.
All returning teachers will receive a step increase. And, an additional step has been added to the teacher salary schedule, moving the max step from 25 to 26.
Not just for teachers
The salary increases are not limited to just teachers. The BOE already approved a $2,000 recruitment and retention bonus for all new and current full-time district employees who remain employed by the district on Nov. 15, 2022 to be paid in December. The BOE also already approved a FY 2022 3% retroactive cost of living adjustment for all BCSD employees that will be reflected in the base salary for the upcoming school year.
With the newly approved budget, classified, administrative, and professional employees will receive another 3% cost of living raise for FY 2023. This equates to an average increase of 6% for classified, administrative, and professional employees, in addition to a step increase for returning staff.
Bus drivers will receive a 5% salary increase. This, coupled with the 3% cost of living raise for FY 2023 equates to an average increase of 8%, in addition to a step increase for returning drivers.
Additionally, funds have been allocated to support the initial implementation of recommendations from the forthcoming Classified, Administrative, and Professional Compensation Study. Results of this study are expected to be received this summer.
Funding has also been included to meet state-mandated healthcare and retirement costs.
Funding
Existing local and state dollars will be utilized to fund half of the teacher salary increase, approximately $2,000 per teacher. The tax increase of (4) mills was approved to achieve the additional $2,000 per teacher to fully fund the $4,000 teacher salary increase included in this budget. Although the district could have proposed additional mills, a more fiscally conservative and sustainable approach was employed.
“The compensation increases in this budget are putting us ahead of the curve and positioning us well for any unpredictable future circumstances,” said Chief Financial Officer Tonya Crosby.
Implementation
Superintendent Rodriguez expressed gratitude for the approved compensation increases for district employees. “By focusing on our staff, we are focusing on our students.” Personnel can expect to see compensation increases in their first paycheck of the 2022-2023 school year. For the majority of teachers this will be in August, and for year-round staff it will be mid-July.
Candace Bruder, Ed.D.
Director of Communications
Beaufort County School District
843-322-2432 (office)
843-941-9178 (cell)
candace.bruder@beaufort.k12.sc.us