County Schools, HCEA Agree On 3.5% Raise, Supplement Reinstatements

Thursday, July 21, 2005

The Hamilton County Schools and the Hamilton County Education Association have agreed on a 3.5 percent pay increase.

The pact in the annual negotiations also calls for the reinstatements of pay supplements that were cut earlier.

The package includes reinstatement of extended time for librarians, guidance counselors and band directors.

They also include full reinstatement of coaching supplement.

Officials said the cost of the items is just under $4 million.

The agreement must be ratified by the HCEA membership and the school board.

The school board earlier approved a 2 percent pay raise for all school system employees.

Officials said funding the agreed-on 3.5 percent raise and putting back in the supplements is dependent on getting additional funding from the county.

The County Commission has been about evenly divided on a tax increase, with Commissioner Larry Henry as the swing vote. Commissioner Henry said recently there should be periodic tax raises rather than waiting for years and then having a big increase. But he did not say whether he would vote for a tax increase this year.

Supt. Jesse Register said getting additional pay for teachers should be the top priority for the schools.

He said the schools continue to lose teachers as well as other school officials to other jurisdictions where they are paid more.

Sandy Hughes, new president of the HCEA, said she knows of six teachers and a guidance counselor who recently left the county schools for higher pay in Georgia.

She said, "Teachers are more mobile than ever."

Ms. Hughes said the county "cannot afford to lose the educational quality and experience that we are losing."

She said county educators contend with "uncertainty and a lack of respect for teachers."

School board members cited TCAP test score improvements and praised the administration of Dr. Register.

Board member Rhonda Thurman said she wanted to find out if raises have to be across the board, or if they can be given to a group, such as just teachers.


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