Charlotte Schools Chief Pushes for Teacher Pay Increase as South Carolina Pay Pulls Ahead
School leaders want to raise teacher bonuses to $10,801, a 5% increase, for next year, as nearby South Carolina now offers better pay than North Carolina.
Charlotte teachers start at $48,636 plus a $7,636 bonus from the district. Right across the border, Fort Mill schools offer $50,000 starting pay. This gap is pushing North Carolina schools to keep up.
Most North Carolina school districts, 111 out of 115, receive extra state money for teacher pay. But the state leaves out the four largest counties: Mecklenburg, Wake, Guilford, and Durham, because they bring in more tax revenue.
The schools could lose $73 million in federal Title I money. To improve poor math scores, leaders want to give math teachers at 14 struggling high schools an extra $15,000.
This plan would support 32 teachers reaching 960 students. They hope to raise Math I scores from 32% to 57% by 2029.
“Teachers deserve to make a liveable wage but it’s so discouraging when we’re so close to the border, it’s not unusual for us to lose teachers to South Carolina simply because the pay is higher,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Crystal Hill said to wcnc.com.
Within the schools, some are concerned these special bonuses will create division among teachers. While math teachers receive extra money, teachers in other subjects don’t get the same benefit.
The district has asked parents to speak with state officials about funding issues. Schools are finding it harder to retain quality teachers as living costs in Charlotte rise.
New changes take effect when school begins next fall. School leaders continue searching for funding while managing tight budgets from city, state, and federal sources.
