Salary Increases In Proposed Schools Budget In Prince William Co.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Salary increases for teachers and other staff are part of the proposed budget for Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia's second largest school district.

The $1.78 billion operating budget proposed by Superintendent LaTanya McDade Wednesday would be a $137 million increase from the current year's budget. A large share of that — $71 million — is tied to compensation.

The proposal calls for a 5.2 percent average salary increase for teachers and 8.1 to 9.1 percent average increase for mid-career teachers. Administrators are proposed to get a 5.2 percent salary increase, while classified staff would receive a 6 percent increase. The proposed pay raises accounts for cost-of-living adjustments and step increases while maintaining a 2 percent mid-scale increase from the last budget.

According to a statement from PWCS, the average teacher would be getting a salary increase of 28.2 percent over four years with increases in past budgets.

"Investing in our students begins with investing in our workforce by delivering on the promise for regionally competitive pay," said McDade in a statement.

The budget also seeks 125 new teacher assistant positions to serve students with special needs, 23 kindergarten assistants, 15.5 reading specialists, and a stipend for IEP case managers.

"The Proposed FY25 Budget supports and continues to build upon our commitments outlined in the Strategic Plan," said McDade. "We have strong strategic priorities and goals that drive our investments to realize our vision to see every student graduate on time with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community."

The full PWCS budget presentation is available to view online. The School Board will hold a public meeting on the budget proposal on Feb. 12 and public hearing on Feb. 21. A work session with a budget markup will happen on March 31, and final consideration will happen on March 20. The budget will then to the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, which sets funding for PWCS during the county budget process.