Cobb Teachers Getting Raise, 10 Principals Hired

MARIETTA, GA — Cobb County teachers will get a small raise, as well as a one-time bonus, under the 2019 school-year budget approved Thursday by the Cobb County Board of Education.

The budget includes a 1.1-percent raise for all permanent employees and an additional one-time, 1.1-percent bonus for teachers.

For a teacher making $40,000, the raise and bonus together would amount to an $880 pay increase.

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In addition to the pay raise and bonus, teachers and other Cobb County school professionals will have two fewer work days in the next school year — 236, down from 238 — with no decrease in pay.

In a news release, the school board said the new budget reflects its priorities of taking care of teachers and students, providing world-class facilities and cutting-edge technology and offering trend-setting student safety measures.

"Under the leadership of this board, a teacher who entered CCSD during the 2014-2015 school year has seen a 20.5 percent salary increase," schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said in the release. "That’s more than $8,000 over the last three years in addition to two, one-time bonuses, which added another 2.2 percent."

Highlights from the newly approved Cobb budget include:

•  a 1.1 percent salary increase for all permanent employees
•  a 1.1 percent bonus for non 238-day employees (teachers, hourly employees, bus drivers, counselors, media specialists, etc.)
• Decrease in workdays for 238-day employees from 238 days to 236 days (administrators, principals, other annual employees, etc.) with no decrease in pay
• Full salary schedule step for eligible employees

•  No tax increase, holding the district's millage rate at 18.9 mills

School board member Scott Sweeney noted that Cobb is one of only a few school districts in Georgia that are both debt-free and have a coveted AAA credit bond rating.

On Thursday, the school board also appointed four new principals and reassigned six others. They appointed three new assistant superintendents and accepted the retirement of long-time principal Judith McNeill, who has been at Walton High School since 2008.

• Sharon Arduino, was assigned to principal of Smyrna Elementary School from Chalker Elementary School
• Nicole Bristow was appointed principal of Chalker Elementary School, from assistant principal of Pitner Elementary School effective July 1, 2018
• Dana Carlton, was appointed principal of McClure Middle School , from assistant principal of from Palmer Middle School
• Georgette Clinton, was appointed principal of Argyle Elementary School, from assistant from assistant principal of Austell Elementary School
• Jami E. Frost was appointed assistant superintendent, Leadership Division from principal of Ford Elementary School
• Faith F. Harmeyer was appointed principal of Nicholson Elementary School, from assistant principal, Mount Bethel Elementary School
• Monica G. Howard was reassigned to principal of Birney Elementary School, from principal of Kennesaw Elementary School
• Jasmine H. Kullar, was appointed assistant superintendent, Leadership Division, from principal of Pine Mountain Middle School
• Judith McNeill retired as principal of Walton High School, effective August 1, 2018.
• Kelly J. Metcalfe was appointed assistant superintendent, Teaching and Learning, from principal at McClure Middle School
• David K. Nelson was reassigned to principal of Pine Mountain Middle School, from principal of Daniell Middle School
• Patrick O'Connell was reassigned to principal, Ford Elementary School, from principal of Hendricks Elementay School
• Phillip M. Page resigned as assistant superintendent, Leadership Division, effective May 8
• Michael N. Perkins was reassigned to principal, Hendricks Elementary School, from principal of Birney Elementary School
• James Brett O. Ward was reassigned to principal of Kennesaw Elementary School, from principal of Smyrna Elementary School

Most of the new appointments will be effective July 1, with some posts starting on June 1.

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