(Columbia, SC) – Richland One School District has approved the third reading of its General Fund Budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025, amounting to $409.2 million. This budget includes significant pay raises for various district employees, aimed at enhancing recruitment and retention efforts.
Key Highlights:
- Increased Teacher Salaries: The starting salary for teachers will rise from $43,640 to $50,100 annually. This adjustment is part of the district’s initiative to attract and retain quality educators.
- Overall Pay Scale Adjustments: The teaching staff pay scale will see an average increase of 9%, varying based on education and years of experience.
- School Bus Driver Pay Increase: School bus drivers will benefit from an average pay increase of over 5.5%. This includes a 2.75% state-mandated increase, supplemented by an additional 2.8% from the district for eligible non-teaching staff.
Dr. Craig Witherspoon, Superintendent of Richland One, expressed satisfaction with the approved budget, stating, “We are pleased to offer these well-deserved increases to our teachers and other staff as part of our ongoing employee recruitment and retention initiatives. Thank you to our Board members for their support and approval.”
In addition to the salary increases, the district will evaluate other financial supplements and the continuation of summer programming previously funded by ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) as they wrap up the 2023-2024 school year.
