Cherokee County School District officials acknowledged no significant student growth is expected, as the School Board adopted the superintendent’s two-year organizational chart — the first step in the hiring process for the next school year.
“If we spend on personnel, I want to see those resources directed toward maintaining small class sizes and ensuring our compensation packages remain competitive,” said Schools Superintendent Brian V. Hightower.
Human Resources compared salaries with other districts and the local labor market, officials said, and found Cherokee’s lagged for newer teachers and certain support positions.
Hightower said he’s committed to improving those salaries, funding a salary step increase for employees and, if revenues allow, proposing a 1 percent salary increase across the district.
“We’re closely watching the local property tax digest’s value, as well as how the governor-elect and General Assembly will implement his promised $5,000 raises for teachers, and if more state funds are on the way for education,” Hightower said.
As soon as leadership staff retirements are known, interviews will begin for subsequently open positions, officials said. The organizational chart will be filled first, followed by the principal chart, assistant principal chart, and then all other existing positions where vacancies resulted from retirements and enrollment growth.
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