Anderson County teachers prepare for more students and better pay amid growth

As inflation and a growing student population loom overhead, Anderson County schools are looking to boost salaries above the state's recommendation to attract and retain educators in the area.

Across all five districts, education leaders are pursuing cost of living and years of service pay increases.

In each district's proposal, teachers are expected to receive a pay boost of at least $2,000, and could reach as high as $4,180.

Earlier this year, Gov. Henry McMaster proposed an increase to minimum teacher salaries across the state to $38,000 per year as part of a plan to rework South Carolina's education funding formulas.

But after the initial decision went to the conference committee, an increased total to $40,000 for all teachers was proposed, said Dee Christopher, superintendent of Anderson School District Four.

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Majority of school workers to receive raises

District one through five, are all proposing a pay surge of for staff including custodians, teacher assistants, secretaries, coaches and more.

There is also an pay increase set for bus drivers within the state's mandated wage expansion.

"We need to be able to take care of our people so we can take care of our kids " Christopher said. "To provide them with opportunities to make a decent wage in an inflationary world."

District Four's current 2,900 student count will increase by at least 50-to-100 within the next academic year, and will also add four new teachers to each school in their region, Christopher said.

Their district is preparing to have the most students it has ever housed, as this area has never had more than 3,000 students, he added.

Wage increases for teachers and staff will come at a time where Anderson area population growth is bubbling, and the need to attract and retain educators to provide students with adequate attention.

According to Christopher, within the next three to four years, District Four is projected to see close to 2,200 added housing units sprout into their region.

A few of these housing developments have already been approved, some are receiving new unit expansions and a few are already starting construction, such as the Sandy Spring Ridge development, which is expected to bring 393 new homes.

District Four is seeking a 12.5% increase above the proposed new budget, a requirement they do not need to meet by law, according to South Carolina's Department of Education budget.

Before sending their new proposed budget, their plan is to meet with their own board to amend the current 2023 fiscal year budget, to increase alongside the new budget proposed from the state, and then adjusting the expenditures after that.

Taking care of the teachers is the top priority for District Four.

"That's what this budget is about," Christopher said. "It's also about keeping our classroom sizes small.

Teachers with Bachelor's degrees to receive highest wages

District Two noticed fewer and fewer science teachers coming out of Upstate colleges into their talent pool of educators.

"I've talked to Anderson University and Clemson and asked them," Jason Johns, superintendent of District Two, said.

The schools notified Johns that their science student enrollment had increased, but were venturing into other careers outside of teaching.

As for recruiting new educators in the Upstate area, there is an even larger incentive to retaining teachers.

The proposed salary amount for new teachers with Bachelor's degrees in Anderson County Schools are as follows:

• District 1: $43,582

• District 2: $44,230

• District 3: $44,320

• District 4: $45,000

• District 5: $44,500

Ten years ago, a first-year teacher in Anderson Five would be making $32,867, said Kyle Newton, spokesperson for the district.

Their goal is to stay ahead of teacher recruitment, and take advantage of Anderson University which sits in District Five's attendance area.

"Just knowing how important it is to get in front of it and capture people," Newton said. "The most important time is getting college grads who are trying to get that first job."

In District Three, new teachers with Bachelor's degrees are proposing a salary of $44,320, said Dylan McCullough, spokesperson for the district.

"We were not required to increase, but we wanted to become competitive for pay," McCullough said. "We want to pay our teachers as much as we can because we know they are worth it."

STEP, Bus Driver and Administration Increases

Wage increases will not stop at educators, as those involved in the support and arrival children making it to school are proposed to receive more money.

"Everybody's getting a raise," McCullough said.

Most notably, bus drivers across all districts are set to receive an 8% increase.

Hiring bus drivers has been a struggle for most Anderson County school districts with some staff shortages in each district, mirroring a trend across the Upstate.

Anderson District Five for example runs about 100 bus drivers to serve its students and is in need of about 18 bus drivers. At the beginning of the school year, District Five increased fully certified bus driver pay to start at $16.75 an hour.

Nurses will receive a $5,000 increase in District Three.

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New budget still awaiting approval

The Anderson Board of Education would normally have already approved the budget prior to July 1, when the fiscal year which goes into effect.

As of today, there is a plan in place to operate under the current year's budget until the board or legislative delegation makes the decision, Susan Crochetiere said in an email with the Anderson Board of Educators.

There is no specific timeline set for budget approval, but a decision is expected soon.

Each district's budget proposal will need to be approved by the Anderson County Board of Education, a decision that has been delayed due to their budget calendar being pushed back.

Joe Nimmer, administrator for Anderson County Board of Education, said he has not yet had the opportunity to review each district's budget in detail.

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A.J. Jackson is a general assignment reporter for the Independent Mail. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com with story ideas and leads, also follow him on Twitter @AJhappened

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Anderson County teachers to see pay increases amid growth