DeKalb teachers will get a raise and start stepping.
Teacher Salary Schedule
Phase 1 Teacher salary schedule 2018-2019
Phase II (DRAFT) -DCSD Teacher Pay Schedule 2018-2019
Phase 1 – July 1, 2018 – 2.5% across the board pay raise.
Teachers, Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, Librarians/Media Specialists, OT/PT/ST.
$17,170,646.00 for Phase 1-with benefits included
Classified staff to include the following: Bus Drivers, Custodians, Food Service Workers, Nurses, Bus Monitors, Paraprofessionals/Teacher Aides, Bookkeepers in the school, Campus Supervisors, Secretaries in the schools, Clerks in the schools, Interpreters in the school, Information Technology Technicians at the school, Registrars, Receptionists at the school, Liaisons at the school, Administrative Assistants at the school, School Healthcare Workers.
Phase 2 – January 2019 – approximately $6.2M
Implement the NEW Step Structures for Teachers, Counselors, OT/PT/ST and Classified Staff positions (those positions listed above) as well as the Classified Staff at the District Office –not school-based
Note: Phase II salary structure has not been approved by the board yet.
Phase 2a – January 2019 – 2.5% raise across the board – approximately $250K
Chiefs, Deputy Superintendent, Regional Superintendents, Associate Superintendent, Executive Directors, Directors, Principals, Assistant Principals and all other District Office Staff – not school-based.
$6,479,732.00 for Phase 2/2a
“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
@ Stan Jester, yes I am referring to the GOLD V Dekalb County Schools District case (Tax Sheltered Annuity) . Do you know what is the final settlement on it?
I believe the Georgia Supreme Court is deciding whether or not to hear the appeal. This case is still a couple years from being over.
Didn’t the GA Court of Appeals already rule that the Board is in breach of contract?
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/appeals-court-ruling-could-costly-for-dekalb-schools/8btsjZMGMN9L1sjDhvmTnO/
Even though I’m 20+ years in, this would be a significant gesture to make up for the lean, abysmal years teachers in DeKalb have had to endure since 2008 and the Lewis/Pope/Board replacement debacle. In the course of these 10 years, I have as both teacher and parent seen so many teachers (mostly good ones) jump ship for greener pastures at APS, Decatur, Gwinnett, Fulton or private schools–you name it–and there’s no way anyone can convince me that this hasn’t had a retrograde effect on the overall quality and morale of the county’s teachers and stakeholders’ confidence in our schools. I’m just hoping that the Phase II schedule posted above translates as one year of service =’s one step, with no shenanigans. However, the head office has an endless capacity for shenanigans, especially where sticking it to teachers is concerned. Too many promises and disappointments, so I won’t believe anything ’til I see the change in my checking account balance.
It is interesting that on the Phase 2 pay scale new teachers are making less than they currently are. I guess we will see what happens soon. Hopefully I do not see a decrease in pay.
All the Step 1 salaries are greater in Phase 2 than in Phase 1.
will we be getting the official salary step increase tomorrow????
Hi Stan:
Will teachers in the system be bumped to match the step level they are in? The step for my time served is higher than my current pay by 5,000
All these questions from teachers! Does this mean that the District hasn’t informed them of upcoming pay changes? Surely not…..
So it states teachers will find out by December 18 about any changes that will occur with paychecks on January 15. Is this still correct? As a teacher in the county it would be nice to know what to expect or not to expect.
Thanks Stan for keeping us informed.
Experience to Step conversion – good question, I’ll find out.
Dr. Gregory said, “We will be utilizing different methods of communication to get the message out to staff about their step emplacement and all communication will be disseminated to staff by December 18, 2018”.
I haven’t seen any communication on that front. I’ll get an update.
Thanks Stan! I am a teacher and have not heard anything about anything except for on here. None of the teachers I have talked to at my school had heard anything so I showed them DeKalb Fact Checker! (Just a few hours left in Dec. 18!)
I agree This and That. I’m a teacher, too. I told all of my coworkers to checkout DeKalb Fact Checker, also. Everyone is expecting an email today! Thanks for keeping us informed Stan!
When are you all going to learn “It’s Dekalb”. They say one thing and do another.
I cannot believe that Dr. Gregory came on here and stated we would be notified by December 18th. They have had all this time to get this information to us, and here it is, December 18th and not a peep! Rediculous!
^ Dekalb Teacher, below is a comment I posted back on February 27, 2018 under Stan’s post “DeKalb Schools New Hires” http://factchecker.stanjester.com/2018/02/7594/
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Hi Stan,
Skimming thru Bernice Gregory’s resume, I was stuck by three things: (1) gaps in her employment, (2) how all of her full-time positions were only 2 or 3 years, maximum, and (3) the majority of her “Education” is from correspondence schools.
She lists two degrees from Argosy’s University of Sarasota; here’s the Wikipedia page on Argosy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argosy_University
Another degree is from Cambridge College, which is another online program. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_College
A fourth degree is from Webster University in Missouri, but that also appears to have been a correspondence/online program. The dates listed on her resume suggest that she was earning the degree from Webster while she was Principal of a school in Leavenworth, Kansas, which is 275 miles away from the college campus
Some of her resume padding is amusing — who lists “Held meetings with parents, as needed” as an accomplishment?
Right DeKalb Teacher! Why would she do that? I had a feeling we were not going to be notified. She could have sent an update…
Can anyone really be shocked that we did not hear anything about our step “emplacements” today? Also wondering what “different methods of communication” they could be using….maybe they really did share this information earlier but they did it via smoke signals and we all just missed it. I am still very skeptical about this whole thing, as there has been zero communication (through any of the usual methods anyway) about it at all- and the only way any of us know about it is from this blog post. Any updates, Stan?
Any update on the pay raise being approved for the step II? We did not get a email yesterday about the salary change like Dr. Bernice Gregory, DeKalb Schools Chief HCM advise they would get .
Yes, the 18th came and went without the promised announcement, and of course those of us who have worked in the county for more than a few years were not in the least surprised. Such is the state of affairs. We have been slowly worn down to expect and accept incompetence.
*ridiculous
Yes Educator, there should have been an update. Dr. Gregory posted on Dec. 7th about the Dec. 18th deadline. That was only 12 days ago; I can’t imagine much has changed since then. DSW2Contributor, that is interesting information.
I was surprised she pinned herself down like that as well. Unfortunately, all systems operating as usual and the poor employees suffer some more.
I’m not surprised at all. But trust and believe that some sort of communication will be issued before contracts are released–not sure what that communication will detail, but we will receive something. Let’s just hope that it is an actual step-increase pay scale and not just a News Flash.
Again, “IT’S DEKALB”. Be aware that things are not on schedule. Like someone said, we may get the information the day before we get paid. BE PREPARED!!!!!!
Yesterday, I reminded Dr. Gregory that it was December 18th. I requested an update on the communications as well as the conversion from Years Experience to Step. The Board Chair stepped in and raised these requests to the full board level. Since this is now a response to the full board, a number of people will review the answer to the board and we may not receive the answers until Friday. That’s when vetted responses are shared with the full board. Most government entities don’t work like this, but the state has these crazy rules for boards of education.
Hello
I too was told by my administrator there would be communication about new pay plans given the step raises. Please let us know when we will know this information.
Thank you,
Has anyone received anything about our step increase? Today
Is the 19th. I thought we were supposed to receive it on yesterday
The 18th?
Hi Stan
I’m a bit confused and concerned that we did not get new pay plans on the 18th. It is a trust matter with the employees that you do what you say especially if you are Chief of Human Resources. Today is the 19th. The fact that this is also about our money really matters. I have a budget to keep. It would help to know what is going to happen with my pay. It is a big deal to employees. Please find out and clarify when we will receive our new pay plan. Thank you.
Again, another disappointment from Dr. Gregory. Her word is not her bond. Why haven’t we heard from her on the 18th. At least let people know why the information was not passed down. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, especially working for DeKalb County School District.
I mean, she makes $176,000 per year. She should be required to respond at this point. Very disappointed.
Good morning,
According to one of the posts above by Dr. Bernice Gregory, DeKalb Schools Chief HCM, we were supposed to get communication about the new step increase, but I have yet to receive it. Are there any updates?
I saw on the district landing page “information” about the increases – but where are the numbers??? We all need to see the scale. TRANSPARENCY
Hi! Mr. Jester
Thanks for your blog. It is complete foolery to pay incompetent supervisors with no credentials or skills to be in the position more than employees with the experience and skills to do the job without any supervision. They will be exposed.
*** Update ***
See if you can guess why I’m not crystal clear as to what is going on …
This morning Jim McMahan asked the Superintendent for a couple of things:
1) Can you clarify when DCSD expects to recommend for BOE approval returning to the Step Salary Schedule for teachers?
2) In addition can you deliver a copy of the recommended Step Salary Schedule?
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I replied to everybody…
Hey Jim,
Let me catch you up. I have attached the “new step structure” for Phase II. It is expected to go into effect January 1 and the board is expected to vote on it in January.
The salary schedule doesn’t have a conversion for years experience to step. It is somewhat assumed that every year a teacher will go up a step, but we are awaiting confirmation on that.
Communication was supposed to go out to the employees by Dec 18th. We await an update on that.
A couple days ago Dr. Erwin asked the Superintendent to give the entire board an update on these issues.
–Stan
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Dr. Green jumped in and said , “I would hold off on this.” and further suggested that we not confuse the salary structure regarding the 2.5% increase with the proposed step structure that will be presented on January 7th.
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I replied
I don’t understand what we are holding off on. Phase I went into effect in July and Phase II including the new step structure is going into effect in January. We approved that in June.
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/ViewMeetingOrder.aspx?S=4054&MID=70828&IID=1512136
Phase 1 – July 1, 2018 – 2.5% across the board pay raise.
Teachers, Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, Librarians/Media Specialists, OT/PT/ST.
Phase 2 – January 2019 – approximately $6.2M
Implement the NEW Step Structures for Teachers, Counselors, OT/PT/ST and Classified Staff positions (those positions listed above) as well as the Classified Staff at the District Office –not school-based
–Stan
Stan
Compensation for step placement. How does that work when I was hired in on step 18 in 2001? I was no idea where they will put me …do you? Can you see why there is such concern and confusion over this step placement. Please, please be sure they are doing this correctly. Your above correspondence is very concerning.
Hi Stan
At this point it would be helpful for Dr. Green to clarify what is happening with out pay. The school houses are voicing lots of confusion. This is our PAY. Please ask Dr. Green to let the employees know what is going on. It truly sounds like a mess.
The compensation for step placement will be complicated for employees with over 30 years experience and already have been on advanced steps in the past.
During today’s meeting with Dr. Erwin [Board Chair] regarding the Proposed Salary Step Schedule, Dr. Erwin asked that we make some modifications and include some additional information that will provide greater clarity and depth for the Board. Given the time needed to make these modifications, we will need to adjust the schedule for dissemination of the Proposed Salary Step Schedule until after Christmas. I will be circling back to you with a more precise time of dissemination next week. Thank you for your patience.
Thank you Dr. Green. I appreciate this very much Stan! If we go by the proposed placement scale…after the 2.5 raise…I’ll be off (pay will be more than the placement scale)the proposed placement scale. I have 37 years as a professional. Hired in at step 18 in 2001. Is the Board going to look at these years on the placement scale for people like me with over 25years experience?
First things first. Let’s see where we stand when the district communicates the proposed salary step schedule after Christmas.
I have a very serious and confused question: Why is the PHASE I salary schedule (2018-2019) the same as the salary schedule for 2017-2018? I do have proof, that these two are the same. Can you answer this.
July 1, 2018 should have been a “2.5% across the board pay raise.”
There is now an update on the Sharepoint homepage, but no details whatsoever.
“If approved by the Board of Education in January 2019, the salaries of DCSD employees are being adjusted to align with the new salary steps. This means many employees will receive an increase in their salary. In addition, ALL district employees—regardless of where they are placed on the salary spectrum—will receive a 2.5 percent pay increase in January 2019”
It hints at a step increase, but is not showing any of the real numbers.
Thank you so much for this Blog! Oh my goodness! It is very helpful. Thank you for being willing to do this as a service to all of us. Happy Holidays to you and yours Stan.
This is very confusing: as stated earlier when you click on PHASE I salary schedule for 2018-2019, it shows the same salary schedule as 2017-2018 but when you print it off it is the same salary schedule as what is on the DeKalb website (the correct one for PHASE I and what we are getting paid now). CONFUSION!!!!!!! Get it together
@Vet. Teacher, at the bottom of the Phase I file, there are 2 tabs/worksheets. One is before 2.5 (% increase) and one shows the 2.5% increase. Perhaps that’s what’s causing the confusing between viewing and printing.
Stan
You are a Godsend! Thanks or looking out or the teachers
Yes!!! Appreciate you!
So, when Dr. Erwin was asking for modifications, does that mean that the draft you posted is not necessarily what is going to be voted on? Could there be changes to what you posted this summer?
I’m guessing Erwin was asking for more clarity in the documentation.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that the new pay classifications are very much in line with the pay classifications set by Atlanta Public Schools (their classification study seems to be handled by the same firm). In fact, if we adopt the phase II increase as proposed above, we will be above the APS and Gwinnett County Teacher Salary Scales. The Atlanta public schools human resources team seems to have released their logic for the new salary ranges implemented a few years. Gwinnett County has also done the same. Hopefully, Dekalb can follow suit.
Please take a look at your leisure: https://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/files/9Z72YE46C788/$file/Compensation%20Update%20Board_08-10-15%20F.pdf
https://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public/employment/content/compensation/revise-compensation
@shacklesoff- I see this is for teachers…do you have information for other professional staff SLP, PT, OT and counselors?
@Educator, yes, this should help:
https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/37357
https://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/wcm/connect/56df332d-b79e-4c28-b560-861b0a8a35be/Combined+Classified+Salary+Schedule+with+Steps.pdf?MOD=AJPERES
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has completed its most recent Compensation & Class Study, mandated by Board of Education Policy GCA. Under this policy, the district is required to complete a comprehensive review of its compensation program every five years and implement changes as needed.
In accordance with this policy, DCSD is once again implementing a step-raise program at all levels. A step-raise program assesses a worker’s ability, education, experience, and overall contribution to the district, and places them on a scale. Where you are placed on such a scale determines your eligibility for future raises.
If approved by the Board of Education in January 2019, the salaries of DCSD employees are being adjusted to align with the new salary steps. This means many employees will receive an increase in their salary. In addition, ALL district employees—regardless of where they are placed on the salary spectrum—will receive a 2.5 percent pay increase in January 2019.
No one’s salary will decrease as a result of the Compensation and Class Study.
As a twenty year employee, 16 (para) and 4 (teacher), where do I fall according to the new scale? Seems like I’m losing my para steps, Hoping it’s 20 in/20 owed!!
What is going on with this administration? Dr. Green said on December 21,”I will be circling back to you with a more precise time of dissemination next week. Thank you for your patience”. But this week is almost done. And then Dr.Gregory stating that employees would know by December 18 about any pay changes, and of course that didn’t happen! In addition, the county has changed how we get paid (if the pay date falls on a Monday or weekend, we got paid the business day before). Now, that has changed and the county never sent any written correspondence about this change! I’m having trust issues now! I thought DeKalb was building TRUST!
Annoyed, If payday falls on a Monday, getting paid on that Monday is a normal thing. If payday falls on a weekend, we should get paid on the Friday before. If that doesn’t happen, it is more than likely a mistake and not the process moving forward.
Why do you say that is the new process?
Hi Stan,
Because this is what we experienced. On the October 15, 2018 check, several of my coworkers were paid on that Monday (which was the 15th). One of my coworkers called HR to inquire about being paid on the 15th. An employee stated that the county isn’t paying on the work day before anymore. She also stated that she was inundated with phone calls about the pay date confusion.
The following link is old (2015-2016 School Year) , but maybe it will give a little clarity.
https://www.nctq.org/dmsView/DeKalb_Compensation_FAQs_2015-16
“What happens when the 15th falls on a Monday, holiday or weekend?
If the pay date falls on a Monday, holiday, or weekend, employees will be paid on the last work day
prior to the weekend or holiday.”
Thanks Stan!
The payroll schedule is published annually and is available from your local bookkeeper. This year’s schedule states
“All payroll check dates are based on the 15th day of the month and the last day of the month.
If a payroll check date falls on a weekend or a Monday, the payroll check will be dated the previous Friday.”
Note that is says “dated” the previous Friday, not “issued” the previous Friday. Our bookkeeper sent a reminder that payday was Oct. 15, not Oct. 12.
Also, keep in mind that pay dates for semimonthly staff may not be the same as biweekly staff (yes, there’s a difference). Lastly, remember that one of the “benefits” we receive for using Georgia United Credit Union (formerly DeKalb Teachers Credit Union) is that your direct deposit goes through a day earlier than other banks.
If you find that your colleagues are getting paid sooner or later than you, then it could be that one of you is paid biweekly vs. Semimonthly or that one if you uses GUCU and the other doesn’t.
I’m not sure why the school district would say when the paychecks are dated. That is quite misleading. The only thing that matters, obviously, is when the money is in the account.
Again, because GUCU gets posted a day ahead. Bottom line: the published payroll schedule said Oct. 15, not Oct. 12, and my bookkeeper reminded us of that beforehand.
I remember being very surprised we didn’t get paid Oct.12th instead of Oct.15th as well. Maybe someone forgot it was a holiday.
Another Teacher,
It’s good that your bookkeeper is communicating with your staff at your school. Perhaps the county needs to train all bookkeepers about effectively communicating with staff at their school. Which is my overall point. It’s really about effectively communicating to ALL staff. Also, I’m with GUCU, so I know about that benefit. I wasn’t referring to that…I was referring to how we’ve historically been paid no matter who you bank with.
Bottom Line: You were informed, others were not. Effective communication is key. Especially with a huge district like DeKalb.
The following page states that if the pay date falls on a Monday, then employees would be paid the preceding Friday. We should have been paid today.
https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/hcm/files/2018/09/faq.pdf
What happens when the 15th falls on a Monday, holiday or weekend?
If the pay date falls on a Monday, holiday, or weekend, employees will be paid on the last work day
prior to the weekend or holiday.
Example: If the 15th of the month is on a Sunday, then employees would be paid on the preceding
Friday
“During today’s meeting with Dr. Erwin [Board Chair] regarding the Proposed Salary Step Schedule, Dr. Erwin asked that we make some modifications and include some additional information that will provide greater clarity and depth for the Board. Given the time needed to make these modifications, we will need to adjust the schedule for dissemination of the Proposed Salary Step Schedule until after Christmas. I will be circling back to you with a more precise time of dissemination next week. Thank you for your patience.”
This was posted last week by Dr. Green. If nothing else, I expect the superintendent to keep his word on matters as important as these. I am disappointed that he did not keep his word.
Whew! Ya’ll DeKalb County Superintendent….smh.
Don’t call, text or inbox me. Ask Dr. Green what I mean.
From representative Darshun Kendricks
Well, we still haven’t heard anything, and it is Saturday 12/29/18. On the bright side of things, we did get paid today. Let us pray for our District. Happy New Year!
I’m deeply concerned about why School Psychologists are not included on the Phase II plan. School Psychologists are required to have a minimum of a specialist degree to be able to work in the school system; which is more than any other employee. Our ratios are 1:2400 and more for some which is significantly more than the 1:500-750 that our national association (National Association of School Psychologists) says we should have. We should have originally been on the phase II plan along with the other support services employees. We do so much for Dekalb County School District and we deserve to be compensated accordingly.
Any reason this has been removed from the DCSD website?
“DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has completed its most recent Compensation & Class Study, mandated by Board of Education Policy GCA. Under this policy, the district is required to complete a comprehensive review of its compensation program every five years and implement changes as needed.
In accordance with this policy, DCSD is once again implementing a step-raise program at all levels. A step-raise program assesses a worker’s ability, education, experience, and overall contribution to the district, and places them on a scale. Where you are placed on such a scale determines your eligibility for future raises.
If approved by the Board of Education in January 2019, the salaries of DCSD employees are being adjusted to align with the new salary steps. This means many employees will receive an increase in their salary. In addition, ALL district employees—regardless of where they are placed on the salary spectrum—will receive a 2.5 percent pay increase in January 2019.
No one’s salary will decrease as a result of the Compensation and Class Study.”
WOW, what can one say. We as educators are NOT getting a 2.5% raise this month. It’s sad when Dr. Green stood in front of a church congregation (New Birth Missionary Baptist Church) back in August 2018 and said that his educators would be receiving a 2.5% raise in September and another in January 2019. You can stand in church and lie. That speaks very low on Dr. Green part and the district.
VERY SAD 🙁
@ Vet. Teacher: out of curiosity, why was Dr. Green at New Birth talking about salaries?
I agree with AB. I think that August was when New Birth was between ministers, but in my 50+ years of church-going I have never heard a School Superintendent step to the pulpit and boast about giving raises to his folks.
AB and Anonymous, yes he did. At the beginning of each school year, they have prayer to start the school year. All teachers, staff, administrators and students are prayed over during that time. Dr Green was there and he did announce about salary. He was not pushed, he said it on his own.
By the way, it had NOTHING to do with who was the minister and if there was a minister. This is an annual event that has been happening forever.
It’s so easy to post negative comments all the time . However it would help if we use this platform to solicit prayers for our Leaders here in DCSD. I don’t always agree with the decisions they make however know one is holding a gun to my head to stay. More Prayer More Power. …stop typing and pray!!!
@Plspray4us,
I am glad that New Birth prays for school personnel. I do too. But the cause of justice is tarnished if we just accept what they give us and any ol’ way that they give it to us.
Remember this quote from Frederick Douglass that Stan posts:
“Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them.”
Sadly I have observed that this is often true in DCSD.
With the lack of communication, DCSD has managed to turn a good thing (salary increases and implementation of steps) into something negative. It’s as if they don’t respect their teachers enough to give them appropriate and timely information, but instead think the teachers should be satisfied with waiting until they see their pay stub.
Folks, that’s not how first-rate organizations do things.
NO 2.5% for teachers and NO step !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sad that you would put it out and then can’t produce.
And have been robbed with the retirement also. What is up with the district ??????????????
Will APs get anything in addition to the 2.5% increase? Looking at the new teacher salary scale, it looks like I would make more going back into the classroom.
There is a salary scale for principals and assistant principals.
Teachers are second-rate citizens in Dekalb, it’s obvious that the ones in the trenches are not valued here. Still no info about this mediocre salary adjustment. No follow-up. Nothing. For us, our entire livelihood depends on the “steps”.
Without us it would be total havoc and chaos. The learning process could not happen. Without unions we have no voice. Teachers need to be respected and valued in DeKalb and this little adjustment will not keep us here or bring experienced A1 teachers to the county. The least we deserve is proper and adequate communication.
There is a new thread with updates. We’re getting raises, just not the scale posted in July.