Posted 11:34 pm Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Troup ISD Employees Could See Pay Increase
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
Troup ISD employees could get some extra cash if board members approve raises.
Staff Writer
Troup ISD employees could get some extra cash if board members approve raises.
District staff members are doing an in-house salary survey to assess whether raises will be possible for all 166 employees, including teachers, cooks and instructional aides.
Brett Parsons, executive director of business services, said he's looking at various options as far as adjusting employees' pay, from a dollar amount raise across the board to a percentage raise across the board.
Brett Parsons, executive director of business services, said he's looking at various options as far as adjusting employees' pay, from a dollar amount raise across the board to a percentage raise across the board.
“We're looking to see what we can afford and what's fair,” he said. “We're hoping we can do it for everybody. All the people we have here work hard. This is something we want to do.”
Employees normally receive a step raise each year based on experience. But when the cost of living changes and insurance goes up, Troup ISD can consider other means, such as adjusting the base salary scale so everyone gets an additional raise, Parsons said.
Employees normally receive a step raise each year based on experience. But when the cost of living changes and insurance goes up, Troup ISD can consider other means, such as adjusting the base salary scale so everyone gets an additional raise, Parsons said.
He said he will now get salary information from surrounding school districts to see how Troup ISD compares, what areas it needs to focus on and how much it can spend.
“Some districts might contribute more to insurance than others. Some might pay bus drivers higher than custodians. You just have to look at how they pay people,” Parsons said.
“Right now, we're still in the process of gathering data from surrounding schools. Then we will start to put this together and run reports in the accounting system and apply scenarios in different ways.”
“Right now, we're still in the process of gathering data from surrounding schools. Then we will start to put this together and run reports in the accounting system and apply scenarios in different ways.”
School officials said district staff is able to look into potential raises because Troup ISD has fared well amid state budget cuts, which they attribute in part to trustees being financially conservative. The district did multiple things this year to cut expenses, including across-the-board cuts on departmental budgets and not filling vacancies through attrition when several employees left.
“Luckily, the school board and administration were able to look ahead, cut back and be able to save money to lower operating costs,” Parsons said. “Even after cutbacks we’re flowing smoothly.”
Troup ISD was originally projected to lose between $900,000 and $3.1 million. But it ended up losing around $500,000 in 2011-12, which is offset in part by increased enrollment, Parsons said.
Given those factors, Superintendent Dr. Marvin Beaty said he believes the district can afford some kind of raise.
He said he also believes employees deserve it, with the district achieving a recognized rating from the state, and that it could be a good incentive for employees to continue with Troup ISD.
He hopes to bring the issue of potential raises to board members in February for consideration.
“Luckily, the school board and administration were able to look ahead, cut back and be able to save money to lower operating costs,” Parsons said. “Even after cutbacks we’re flowing smoothly.”
Troup ISD was originally projected to lose between $900,000 and $3.1 million. But it ended up losing around $500,000 in 2011-12, which is offset in part by increased enrollment, Parsons said.
Given those factors, Superintendent Dr. Marvin Beaty said he believes the district can afford some kind of raise.
He said he also believes employees deserve it, with the district achieving a recognized rating from the state, and that it could be a good incentive for employees to continue with Troup ISD.
He hopes to bring the issue of potential raises to board members in February for consideration.
