Loudoun County Public School employees may see pay raises in the coming year after School Board members voted April 16 to add increases across the board.
During a work session, the board voted 7-2 in favor of the raises with Eric Hornberger (Ashburn) and Tom Reed (At-Large) dissenting.
Bill Fox’s (Leesburg) compensation plan modified would offer $1,500 increases for all scales with the top step treated as a one-time bonus. It would also give classified positions a 50 cent per hour raise with a cost savings of $805,000 in fiscal 2013.
“I’m introducing this proposal as a better option, better afforded by Ms. Bergel or Ms. Rose. Not only does it compensate but … it’s a very respectable raise across the board,” Fox said, mentioning it would help in adding more positions to the new John Champe High School. “This is a way to give a bonus to the top and give everybody a fair increase without a corresponding increase we have to cut from another program.”
Except for a few, most board members were on board with Fox’s plan. Hornberger said it will take almost $1 million out of the “pockets of our employees” after three years of not provided increases, especially, he said when the county isn’t required to do so.
The additional cost savings in Fox’s plan could potentially add an assistant athletic director, guidance counselor, secretary, guidance secretary and a study hall teaching assistant position back to Champe High School, totaling $282,779.
“I thought we were moving in the direction of a tiered approach to show more fairness. I’m glad there was a change in direction to show faith across the board,” Jennifer Bergel (Catoctin) said.
Other plans included Debbie Rose’s (Algonkian) compensation plan which would give $500 for those earning up to $50,000; $1,000 for those earning between $50,000 and $100,000; $1,500 for those making over $100,000 on all scales except classified which, will receive an additional 50 cents per hour. Those on the top step would receive a $1,500 one-time bonus to create a cost savings of $5 million in fiscal 2013.
The increase to Rose’s compensation plan would have given $750 for those earning up to $50,000; $1,250 for those earning between $50,000 and $100,000; $1,500 for those making over $100,000 on scales except classified, which will receive an additional 50 cents per hour. Those on the top step would receive a $1,500 one-time bonus, which would save $3.2 million for fiscal 2013.
The board also voted to add the assistant athletic director, guidance secretary, guidance counselor, secretary and study hall teaching assistant positions to Champe in fiscal 2013.
“These positions are absolutely needed. If we opened John Champe without these positions we are doing a complete disservice to the school,” Bergel said.
The chief information officer position to guide the consolidation of information technology functions in the school system was voted 6-2-1, with Bergel and Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) dissenting and Reed abstaining, to be put back in the budget for an addition of $200,000.
The School Board has still not heard whether to expect funding from the state, which could potentially affect their budget. There will be a public hearing on the budget April 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the School Administration Building.
Nothing is being taken back. The costs have gone up and it’s long overdue for teachers to pony up for the VRSand the health care costs. It’s still a increase.
LCPS has been pulling this ruse for years. They “graciously” give us a raise, and ALWAYS find something to counter it with. One year, it was the rugby team, and often, it is some increase in rates. In this case, taking 1% for VRS and raising health care costs. Pretty sick trick, people! That’s LCPS for ya!
It should be and I don’t give a rats ass what you are tired of.
I am so sick of you people complaining because LCPS teachers don’t pay into their retirement. Well, we did about 20 years ago. However, the school board opted to pay our retirement in place of a raise. Now, that is being taken from us. Stop complaining about a benefit that was a part of our salary package. Now, it is being taken back!
The school board is working to convince us that this is a pay increase. It makes the public mad and the employees think that they actually are getting a raise. However, I have done the math and it’s almost a complete wash. My husband I both work for the county, so that is a 3000 increase to our household income. However, when you factor in the 1% VRS for both of us and the proposed insurance changes for myself, husband, and son, it works out to roughly 50 dollars increase per month after taxes per month.
John Champe High is opening 70% under capacity. Won’t be close to full for a few years. Do they really need full admin staffing now?
Would you please divide 750 by 52 before considering it a huge wage? It comes to about .36/hour. Of course, teachers work more than 40 hours so it’s even less then that. These teachers have not had a raise in three years. Get real!
Raises should be based on performance. No need to reward bad teachers with the same bonus or raise as great teachers.
@Allen. Companies are giving raises and bonuses. You’re being bamboozled by your company to think otherwise. People whine about the salaires and benefits of public employees because the information is easily available to review. Let’s start posting the salary and benefits of private employees-I’d love to compare. Granted, the money being spent is your tax dollars, and we should scrutinize the spending. With that said, why don’t the private sector employees complain when companies basically mismanage themselves and force hundreds and thousands of lay offs? This $1500 raise is small compared to the mess corporate America has caused this Country. Blame the coporations for your frozen salary.
It’s been three years for me since I saw a pay raise. I don’t work for Loudoun County. Lots of people paying the taxes aren’t seeing increases in their pay. This seems inappropriate given our current economic environment.
Will you be increasing the parking for the children from $200 to maybe $500? Will you be increasing the sports fee from $100 to $400 per sport? Will you be taking away after school activities, cutting sports and activity buses for the children? Will you be cutting special programs more? Will be taking it away from the kids so the LCPS top management can keep living high on the hog? My taxes should be for the children. Everyone is having trouble now….don’t take it out on the kids. What a joke.
Not sure why LCPS needs a CIO? I guess they had an empty office at the Taj Mahal to fill. For LCPS to claim technology edge, they need to do a better job with their website since most of the links don’t work, outdated information and clean it up to be more user friendly.
My whopping 50 cent raise will surely buy me an 8th of a tank of gas a month.
@Commenter - I had to re-read the article myself as it’s a little confusing, but the tiered plan you referenced is not the one being backed. Fox’s plan giving $1500 to all scales, where the top is treated as a one time bonus sounds like the one that will make it through. This makes a lot more sense then Debbie Rose’s plan.
So, is Hatrick getting $1500 too?
Remember this when it comes time to vote. Vote them out with extreme prejudice and rage.
“$500 for those earning up to $50,000
$1,000 for those earning between $50,000 and $100,000
$1,500 for those making over $100,000”
I vote Republican, and even I see the absurdity of the biggest dollar raises going to those who make the most amount of money. Those making over $100,000 in a public school system are much closer to their salary ceiling (or already at it) than someone making $50,000.
Maybe now the teachers can afford to pay into their retirement? Sure seems like the way I would cut 22 million from the budget.
I am confused. Does the top of the scale get anything? What is meant by a “one time bonus”?
I am glad John Champe will open with the positions that were originally cut. I still think that that the teacher with the most experience are being penalized by Mr. Fox’s plan. I hope this does not happen next year. As, a teacher middle of my career, I hope they change the pay structure before I reach twenty to thirty years. It appears , he does not value experience, just youth so you can pay them less.
This is such a good news for school employees, like me. We’ve been waiting for this, it’s been eight years since our last increase. Feel free to connect with me! http://www.annuitystraighttalk.com/
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