COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. is increasing support staff pay by implementing a new starting wage of $15 per hour.
The school board has approved additional appropriations to support the changes, which go into effect on July 1.
“The additional appropriation required is a little over $500,000 — $509,000 — for the education fund and $305,000 for the operations fund,” said Phillips. “Total of $814,000. The other funds involved don’t require additional appropriations from the board; just the tax-supported funds.”
He added that existing cash balance and expected revenue increases for this fall will cover the proposed cost, and it is “not an additional tax burden.”
In discussing the changes, Phillips said the school corporation currently employs about 1,100 support staff members and is facing “real labor market challenges,” especially for positions on the lower end of its support staff pay matrix.
“Our relatively low starting rate is one that we just can’t continue,” he said. “At $11.22 (per hour) for a teaching assistant to come in, right now, in this labor market is just not something that’s sustainable.”
For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
