School board discusses principal pay increases

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 16, 2017

 

SALISBURY — Rowan-Salisbury Schools principals may get permanent pay hikes following Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Superintendent Lynn Moody and the board discussed the difficulties the district is having in hiring and keeping principals. A lot of it, Moody said, comes down to pay.

“It’s easier to attract than to retain principals in the district,” she said.

While many new principals are eager to accept positions in the district, many leave soon after they “cut their teeth” on principalship. It’s common for other districts to recruit those with a year or two of experience out of Rowan-Salisbury, Moody said, by offering higher pay.

“Experienced principals are very valuable,” she said.

A recent salary study conducted by the system showed that Rowan-Salisbury principals are paid significantly lower supplements than their peers in nearby counties. And a recent move by the state legislature might make things even more difficult for the county.

When the General Assembly passed the state budget earlier this year, it included caveats on awarding principal bonuses based on school growth and average daily attendance. While Moody said she thinks the legislature had good intentions, the move only increased the difficulty of recruiting good administrators to small, rural or struggling schools.

“From a principal’s perspective, why would a principal go to a small school that has challenges when they could go to another school?” Moody asked.

To help improve the district’s chances, and to help boost salaries, Moody made a proposal.

“We would like to have our own sustainable model to address some of those issues,” she said.

The $297,000 pay proposal would reward principals based on the number of years they stay with the school system, for accepting additional responsibilities as a community principal or if they serve at an at-risk school. At-risk schools identified include 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, Hurley Elementary and Knollwood Elementary.

Should the board agree to approve the proposal, it would be paid for with a previous county appropriation for principal supplements and the elimination of current principal mentorship and end-of-the-year bonuses.

“So this would be more consistent,” Moody said.

However, board members had several questions about the proposal and spent the better part of an hour discussing it. Dean Hunter said that, under the proposal, it would be possible for one principal to get an $8,000 supplement and another to get a nearly $27,000 supplement. He, along with board member Travis Allen, wanted to know if such a disparity is considered normal.

Allen also argued in favor of giving raises to noninstructional staff.

“When was the last time we did a study to find out what our maintenance workers make, what our custodians make, what our cafeteria workers make?” he asked. “…I’m not comfortable with big raises for one group, raises for another group, and nothing for this group. In education, everybody’s equally important.”

Board Chairman Josh Wagner pointed out that, while it is important to value all employees, the school system has given bonuses to nonclassified employees recently.

And according to Moody, the principal situation is dire — in the state, as well as in Rowan County.

The pay proposal still has an estimated recurring $18,000 unfunded. After some more discussion, the board agreed to discuss the issue further at its Aug. 28 business meeting.

Contact reporter Rebecca Rider at 704-797-4264.