Proposed Fulton Schools Budget Calls For Teacher Raises

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At its work session on Tuesday, the Fulton County School Board received a first look at the entire fiscal year 2016 budget proposed by Superintendent Robert Avossa.

Creating a five-year trend of increasing employee pay, the superintendent’s proposed budget includes raises and “step” increases, which is how school systems define an employee’s years of experience and compensate them accordingly.

The draft budget includes a tiered raise structure for teachers that corresponds with their years of service:

• Steps 0-5 – proposed 4 percent raise plus a step increase
• Steps 6-20 – proposed 8 percent raise plus a step increase
• Steps 21-26 – proposed 4 percent raise plus a step increase (teachers above Step 26 will receive proposed 4 percent raise only)

“Today I asked the school board to look at a different way to compensate our teachers since they are the lifeblood of our district and have the most direct connection to student achievement,” Dr. Avossa told the board. “We are focusing on how to improve teacher retention, particularly among teachers who are midway in their career. Research indicates that it’s during this time — 6 to 20 years of service — where teachers have the most impact on students. Including their step, more than half of our teachers could see an 8-10 percent increase in pay next year.”

In addition, the proposed budget includes a 3 percent raise plus a step increase for eligible non-teaching employees. It also proposes increasing work days for certain employee groups and increasing supplements.

Fulton County Schools is the only metro Atlanta district that has been able to offer some financial increase to its employees for four consecutive years, including a 3 percent salary increase two years ago, and the elimination of furlough days five years ago.

This year, the district also is offering signing bonuses, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, to new teaching recruits.

In 2013, Fulton County Schools adopted a new budgeting approach, called “modified zero-based budgeting,” that closely aligns funding needs with the district’s priorities.

The fiscal year 2016 budget was developed using this process and it required that the budget be developed from the bottom up and based on demonstrated need rather than just approving incremental increases or decreases.

Totaling just over $921.3 million, the proposed general fund budget keeps students and the classroom as its focus. Instruction — at nearly 67 percent of the general fund — still remains the largest allocation of the budget, with the remaining 33% budgeted for pupil transportation, maintenance and operations, and other administrative functions.

The draft budget also keeps class sizes the same and does not include any staff reductions or furlough days for employees. A combined millage rate of 18.502 also is proposed, and if approved, it will remain the same for a sixth consecutive year.

Public hearings on the budget are planned for May 5 and May 14, with tentative approval slated for May 14. The school board plans to formally adopt the budget in June.

What Should You Read Next?

• Ahead of Career Fair, Fulton Announces New Teacher Signing Bonus
• Drop in Birth Rates Fuel Fulton School Enrollment Decline
• School Redistricting Plan Shuffles Some Johns Creek Students
• Fulton School System Accredited For Another 5 Years

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