Share
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools stands ready to grant 3 percent raises to all employees, with additional bumps for about 6,000, if the governor signs the state budget and Mecklenburg County commissioners release money set aside for raises.
The budget approved by state legislators, coupled with county money, will also let CMS add all of the positions proposed in the district’s 2012-13 budget, including high school teachers, tech support staff and additional “multimedia” communications staff.
The board voted 8-0 Tuesday to approve a raise plan that includes market adjustments approved in 2007 but stalled by the recession. Those will go to 254 salaried staff, mostly assistant principals, and about 5,800 hourly workers, such as teacher assistants, bus drivers and cafeteria workers.
CMS has more than 18,000 employees.
Gov. Bev Perdue has until Sunday to veto the state budget, sign it or let it pass without her signature. Tuesday afternoon, she called on lawmakers to revisit their budget and give more to education, but did not indicate what she’ll do if they decline.
The school board voted on a raise plan Tuesday so it can go before county officials immediately. Commissioners put $18.5 million into a restricted fund to be used only for CMS raises.
The board also voted 8-0 (member Tim Morgan was absent) to authorize hiring of 62 additional teachers to reduce ninth-grade class sizes. Acting now helps CMS recruit top candidates and lets principals work the new posts into their fall schedules.
CMS Chief Financial Officer Sheila Shirley said if all goes as anticipated, CMS will be able to cover all of the new spending proposed in its plan and have about $1 million left over. The annual budget is about $1.2 billion, with more than half coming from the state.
The board will adopt its final 2012-13 budget later this summer, after the state budget is approved and new Superintendent Heath Morrison starts work.
