Updated April 24, 2019

The Giles County Board of Education is facing number of issues including efforts to raise county teacher's pay in the 2019-20 fiscal budget.

During a work session the board started looking at those issues and giving Director of Finance Beth Moore-Sumners a direction to start preparing a budget proposal.

The state has moved to a schedule that recognizes only two categories — bachelor's degrees and advanced degrees.

Giles County pays on a salary schedule that recognizes multiple education levels including bachelor degrees, EDS degrees, Masters Plus 30 and doctorates. 

Since the state is paying the county based on those two education categories, it was proposed the school system move to the same salary schedule as the state. Approximately 52 teachers who have higher degrees would be grandfathered into the current system if the new salary schedule is approved.

The board is looking at three options included proposed salary schedule change for certified teaching personnel. This option would leave 40 teachers without a raise in pay and estimated cost would be $689,000.

 Second proposal was a new salary schedule and across the board 2 percent raises for all certified teachers, including the 40 teachers. The estimated cost would be $752,000.

 Third option was proposed new salary schedule and 2 percent raises for all school system employees. The estimated cost would be $968,000.

 The board was also given options concerning extracurricular/coaching supplements.