Charleston County School District Boosts Teacher Pay Raises
In a recent meeting, the Charleston County School District chose to prioritize teacher salary discussions over the proposed new academic calendar considerations. The board has pushed the debate for the 2025 budget and the selection of one of three academic calendars to a later date. Their actions signify the importance they place on providing fair compensation to the educators within the district.
Amendment to Increase Teacher Salaries
During the deliberations, an amendment to reallocate funds from risk pool funding to supplement teacher salaries was approved. An additional $8,000 will be provided to teachers, thereby increasing the originally proposed $7,500. The decision comes as an effort to better acknowledge and reward the hard work and commitment displayed by teachers within the district.
Ed Kelley, a board member, elucidated, “There is no better way to spend money in this district than to support teachers because supporting teachers means that we get better education for our kids.”
This teacher pay amendment was endorsed by a 6-3 vote and is expected to undergo further discussions as part of the budget talks in a second hearing due on June 24.
Proposed Options for the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar
The board had planned to resolve their choice for the 2025-2026 academic school year during the meeting, using data collected from a public survey conducted last month. However, this decision was postponed to a later date.
The proposed options for the academic calendar were made public in May, asking for community input via surve. The options, labeled A, B, and C, all propose the start of the academic year on August 12, 2025, and a winter break from December 22, 2025, to January 5, 2026. Differences lie in the additional breaks throughout the year and the consequent last day of school.
Option A includes a winter break, spring break, federal holidays, and a break for election day. In contrast, options B and C propose additional breaks scattered throughout the year, with the school year ending in early June. Option C notably offers teachers an extra five days off compared to the other proposed calendars.
The purpose of incorporating extra breaks into options B and C is to reduce student burnout potentially, aiming toward academic success. But District Chief Academic Officer Michelle Simmons admitted to the absence of evidence supporting this claim. Thus, further investigation and discussions are required.
As Charleston County School District moves to the next steps, the primary focus remains on heightening the quality of education for the students by fortifying the district’s backbone – its teachers.
