Just months before leaving as outgoing Superintendent, Michael Thurmond said, “Our highest budget priority is to increase salaries for our highly qualified veteran teachers.” The administration recommended the following three-tier salary increase to the board:
4 – 3 – 2 Plan : Teachers and Employees
| % Increase | |
|---|---|
| 4% | Cost-Of-Living-adjustment (COLA) for all veteran teachers with 6 or more years of experience |
| 3% | COLA increase to teachers with 0-5 years of experience |
| 2% | COLA increase for all other employees |
How did that recommended increase stack up to other metro Atlanta school districts?
| School District | Cost of Living | Step Increases | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County School District | Teachers: 3%-4% 6-30 yrs 4% 5 yrs/less 3% |
No | |
| Fulton County School District | Teachers: 4%-8% -step 0-5 (4%) -step 6-20 (8%) -step 21 (4%) |
Yes** | Sign-on bonuses ($1,000-$2,500) |
| Cobb County School District | Teachers 4% | Yes** | Additional 1% salary added back, due to a cut that took place in 2010 |
| Atlanta Public School District | None | No | Salary Study Proposal (no increases for any employee) |
| Gwinnett County School District | Teachers 2.5% plus schedule adjustment | Yes** | Additional 6.6 million dollars expended to adjust teacher salary schedule, to be more competitive.Increase starting salary for new teachers to be more competitive. |
**Step is worth an additional 3% in salary
“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.”