Every Salem-Keizer Public Schools employee to get wage increase by end of August 2022

Every Salem-Keizer Public Schools employee, with the exception of Superintendent Christy Perry, will see an increase in wages by the end of the month.

The bump is aimed to bolster retention and recruitment efforts while also showing appreciation and acknowledgment of the district's existing workforce, said Aaron Harada, a spokesman for the district. All Salem-Keizer staff members were notified of the change last week.

The boost in wages comes as the cost of living continues to rise statewide and across the country. The annual inflation rate for the United States for the last year is 8.5% after previously rising to 9.1% — the most since November 1981, according to U.S. Labor Department data published Aug. 10.

"Simply put, we value our employees," Harada said in a statement to the Statesman Journal. "We sought to better align our compensation structures with fair market wages, support employee recruitment and demonstrate to our employees that we understand the value and critical nature of their work.

"This change helps us continue those efforts," he said, "and will ultimately help our employees continue to serve students while still meeting their own personal and family financial obligations in our changing times."

The wage increases — paid for out of the district's general fund — will impact all district employees, including classified, licensed and administrative workers, though each group will be affected differently.

As of January, data posted by Salem-Keizer officials shows there were 2,754 licensed and 2,826 classified employees in the district. There were 107 principals and assistant principals at the time, as well as 79 districtwide supervisors.

Classified staff will see some of the largest increases, with some positions moving up two steps in their salary schedules. These employees include custodians, instructional assistants, security specialists and secretaries.

For licensed employees, such as teachers, the change comes in the form of a cost of living adjustment from about 3% to 4.5%. They will also receive an additional $750 retention bonus set for March of next year, according to the district's memorandum of understanding with the Salem Keizer Education Association.

Related: Licensing backlog, fees add challenges for Oregon teachers

Tyler Scialo-Lakeberg, president of the education association, said the wage bump is happening before and separate from the union entering bargaining negotiations with the district for its next contract, likely in the spring of next year.

Association leaders were expecting some kind of increased retention bonus from the district after the passage of state House Bill 4030, Scialo-Lakeberg said. The bill provided Oregon districts with nearly $100 million to use for recruitment and retention efforts, such as bonuses, and to reimburse substitute teachers and instructional assistants for training costs they incur through January 2024.

"If you look at inflation rates, we're still down," she said. "We have been advocating all year that (as) … we've seen people leaving the district, leaving the profession but also leaving for other, smaller districts, that our district has to do more."

Scialo-Lakeberg said that effort prompted Salem-Keizer's "teacher-directed days," or work days with no student contact, and retention bonuses this past year. And while she wasn't anticipating additional relief coming through a cost of living adjustment this summer, she said it's "wonderful."

"People are appreciative and glad it happened," she said. "We're still not there, but, you know, any step toward closing that gap is a huge, huge relief for people."

Similar-sized districts are considering increases as well.Woodburn School District officials said they are still negotiating with licensed staff and have not landed on any financial agreements.

"Every school district in Oregon, like every employer, is unique," Harada said. "Our changes were based upon our individual circumstances and current compensation levels, which we determined were not adequately meeting district or employee needs.

"While other districts may find themselves in different circumstances," he said, "we do know many, if not all, are closely reviewing their compensation models to ensure that they are appropriate for their needs."

Salary schedules for each employee category have been updated on the district website. View them at salkeiz.k12.or.us/employment-home/salary-schedules.

Contact Statesman Journal education reporter Natalie Pate at npate@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6745. Follow her on Twitter @NataliePateGwin

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem-Keizer Public Schools teachers, workers get pay raise