Raises for Educators Proposed in New Kent

By Melodie N. Martin, Richmond Times-Dispatch

Mar. 14–New Kent County’s public schools have much to offer, but the school system’s biggest challenge to attracting and retaining quality educators remains the pay, school Superintendent J. Roy Geiger said.

“If we can get to the state average, we can sell ourselves as a small school division with improving facilities and great kids,” Geiger said. “But we want to be at the state median to be able to compete.”

That’s why the school system’s proposed $24.37 million budget for next year includes salary increases of up to 5 percent. School Board members on March 5 unanimously endorsed the plan, which heads to the county supervisors.

The requested pay raise would account for about $815,000, or 58.6 percent, of the schools’ budget increase. Geiger said lower salary increases in the past several years have failed to keep New Kent schools competitive among the state’s 134 school divisions.

Teacher salaries in New Kent average $41,260, whereas the median salary range in the state averages $42,747, or a difference of $1,487.

Local funding in the schools’ spending plan would increase to $9.67 million, about $771,000, or 8.6 percent, more than what is currently received.

The spending plan — an increase of about $1.3 million, or 6 percent, from the current budget — would also create nine additional full-time positions, including five teachers. The school division’s total student enrollment is expected to increase by 87 students to 2,759 next year.

Technology costs include a new system for alerting parents of school closings or emergencies and software for managing bus routes, nine-week assessments and special-education planning.

For the first time next fall, the county will begin the school year with two K-5 elementary schools. Additional equipment and materials will be needed to balance programs at New Kent Primary School, which serves children from preschool to second grade, and George W. Watkins Elementary School, which serves third- to fifth-graders. Improvements to both schools will allow them each to hold 700 students.

New two-tiered bus routes, which will transport middle and high school students separately from elementary students, will require fewer buses and drivers. The middle school and high school will open earlier at 7:50 a.m. and dismiss students at 2:55 p.m., while the elementary schools will open at 9 a.m. and dismiss students at 3:35 p.m.

The elementary school zones are bounded roughly along Emmaus Church and Old Church roads, with students in the western half of the county attending Watkins Elementary School and those to the east going to the current primary school location, which will be renamed New Kent Elementary School.

Construction has begun on a $49.9 million high school that will accommodate 1,400 students and is slated to open in fall 2008. The middle school will be moved into the current high school building and open at the same time.

Contact staff writer Melodie N. Martin at mmartin@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6290.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Richmond Times-Dispatch

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