By Rebecca Rider
rebecca.rider@salisburypost.com 

SALISBURY — The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education will examine a new principal pay proposal Monday at its monthly work session.

The school system has made several strides recently to raise principal salaries, including offering bonuses and increasing supplements. But Rowan County still falls behind many of its neighbors when it comes to salaries the school system is able to offer to principals.

A recent salary study ordered by the board showed that Rowan County’s principal supplements were roughly $5,000 lower than those of neighboring counties. And after recent state budget stipulations, the district is even further behind. When the N.C. General Assembly passed its budget earlier this year, it included new bonus opportunities for principals — one based on school growth, and the other based on school size.

“Since we have small schools with low (average daily membership), this will make us even less competitive,” a document in the board agenda notes.

A proposed local re-work of principal pay and bonuses would provide a retention supplement, a supplement if the principal works as a community principal or mentor and a supplement for principals who serve in at-risk schools. The proposal highlighted 12 at-risk schools in Rowan-Salisbury, including: Salisbury High, Knox Middle, Overton Elementary, Isenberg Elementary, Koontz Elementary, Henderson Independent High, North Rowan High, North Rowan Middle, North Rowan Elementary, Hanford Dole Elementary, China Grove Elementary, Hurley Elementary and Knollwood Elementary.

According to the proposal, a $6,000 supplement would be awarded to principals at at-risk schools. The retention supplement would award $3,000 to principals who have remained with the district between 0 and three years, $6,000 for those who have stayed four to five years, and $9,000 to principals who have six or more years in Rowan-Salisbury Schools.

A $12,000 bonus is ear-marked for community principals — according to the proposal, there are five community principals in Rowan-Salisbury Schools, though they are not identified.

Should all supplements be approved, it would cost a total of $297,000.

The proposal suggests drawing funds from county appropriation, and elimination of current principal bonuses awarded for mentoring and a bonus paid from the board’s fund balance. However, these measures would still leave approximately $18,000 unfunded.

The board will meet Monday at 1 p.m. in the Wallace Educational Forum Board Room, 500 N. Main St.

In other business, the board will:

• Hear a proposal to name the new western elementary school, as well as set up dates for a public hearing regarding the school.
• Discuss principal hiring practices.
• Discuss graduation attire in regards to military uniforms.

Contact reporter Rebecca Rider at 704-797-4264.