LITTLE ROCK — The Little Rock School Board on Thursday unanimously approved 2 percent raises for district administrators and for employees who are support staff and do not hold teacher licenses.
The increase duplicates the percentage raises agreed to for district teachers in September.
Besides associate superintendents, directors and principals, the employees affected by the board vote Thursday include transportation employees, security officers, maintenance workers, secretaries, nurses and psychological examiners.
In addition to the 2 percent raise that is retroactive to July 1, eligible employees also will receive the standard 3 percent step increase for their completion of a year of work. Those employed by the district for several years and who have reached the top salaries for their particularjobs are ineligible for the step increase but will receive the 2 percent raise.
School Board member Baker Kurrus advised district administrators that next year he may push for a system in which teachers and support staff may not necessarily receive the same percentage increase. The current system results in a greater disparity each year in employee salaries, he said, noting that a couple of percentage points may result in a couple of hundred dollars per year to one employee and a couple of thousand dollars to another.
David Hartz, the district's senior director for human resources, welcomed the board's vote for this year's pay raises, which were negotiated or more informally discussed with the employees.
"In regard to student achievement, we are all in it together," Hartz said. "Support staff have a very big impact on kids, just as a principals and teachers do."
Arkansas, Pages 24 on 10/26/2007