CHARLOTTE, N.C. (News Release) — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education approved salary increases for teachers, assistant principals, principals and all other employees in a special called meeting Nov. 15. The Board also approved the addition of 72 student-support positions district-wide.
βWe have waited to do this because we were hoping to have a state budget,β said Mary McCray, Board chair. βWe care about our employees and our students, and we are committed to doing whatβs best for them despite uncertainty in Raleigh. Weβd prefer to have a state budget rather than taking these actions piecemeal but lacking that, we decided to do something now.β
The Boardβs action will put in place step increases (set by state salary schedules) and an increase in the local supplement for teachers and certified staff. It will also give increases to principals and assistant principals. Other employees will get a 3% raise. Hourly employees such as cafeteria workers and teacher assistants will get raises to bring their hourly pay to $13.22.
All raises will be retroactive to July 1, the start of the districtβs fiscal year, and the retroactive amounts will be paid by Jan. 31.
The district will also add 72 positions to support social and emotional health, something that will benefit students, McCray said. The district currently has 550 such positions.
βSocial and emotional health is essential if students are going to be able to achieve in school,β she said. βAdding these will help us provide better support in our schools. Weβre still not where we need to be, but these 72 positions will move us closer.β
The raises will be funded by money appropriated from the state and from Mecklenburg County.
