FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) support staff received a raise following a unanimous vote by the school board.
The new pay plan is for classified employees, which is everyone besides teachers and administration.
Under the new plan, teacher assistants and program managers will get a 6% raise.
For example, a starting TA makes $15 an hour, with the raise they will now make $15.90 an hour.
Additionally, maintenance and transportation professionals will receive an 8% raise.
Shari Church is one of many who will benefit from the raises.
Church has been working with the school system for almost 20 years.
Over the years, she said she's had to pick up another job or work games to supplement her income.
Church appreciates the raise because she believes it puts them one step closer to being paid for the extra work they put in.
"We could all have jobs working at McDonalds or Subway. Instead, we are choosing to help educate our children at schools at a lot of different levels. I mean, we have teacher assistants who are sitting on the floor with kindergarten students at elementary schools. And we have a variety of teacher assistants that are working with children that are special needs," explained Church.
Church's co-worker Katie Welch also appreciates the pay increase.
She is a test coordinator who has been with the school for 10 years.
"We're fostering so many and disciplining so many different kinds and pouring into their lives. I think without the classified roles teachers couldn't do their jobs. They need that support," Welch continued, "We have to keep up with the students these days. So, we're constantly changing things, testing is changing and so we're being taught all the time. We're required to be taught professional development, to be trained. So, I think that should be compensated."
The school system says this is a plan they've been working on for years.
They assure the district will continue to have conversations about increasing pay.
"It's our hope that as we offer a more fair and competitive compensation package that will allow folks the opportunity to come to work for us and hopefully only have to work one job when they're working for the school system. It breaks our hearts when we hear teacher assistants or classified folks saying they worked here during the day then they have another job. We would prefer our employees to have one job, or a second job would be a choice rather than a necessity," said WS/FCS Chief Human Resource Officer, Dr. Chris Weikart.
Dr. Weikart said the next step is implementing a local longevity supplement. This means the more tenure you have - the more money you'll make.
The district hopes that the policy will get approved by January.
The school system says the raises will show up on paychecks at either the end of the month or the middle of next month.
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