Intense work on the budget for the 23-24 school year led to the announcement on April 21 that all staff would receive pay increases in the upcoming year.
According to Superintendent KC Somers, and Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway, the updated compensation comes after both intentional work to identify efficiencies within the existing budget, as well as the announcement of additional funding from the state level. Through this process, district leadership identified available funding needed to issue an average 12% pay increase across the district.
“This is not a simple, flat percentage increase to all staff. Simply stated, employees with lower annual pay will receive a higher percentage change to provide a suitable annual dollar change; while employees with a higher annual pay will receive a lower percentage change,” Somers said.
According to Ridgway, while the district is making intentional strides to close the gap in pay between Lewis-Palmer School District 38 and its neighbors, it will not close this year. Ridgway said all school districts can expect a roughly 10% increase to state per pupil revenue, and can choose to use those dollars on compensation. Still, due to the decision to identify efficiencies in the budget to the total of approximately $1.2 million and apply those funds to compensation, D38 will gain some ground.
“To start this school year, we promised growth and innovation, and we are pleased to make progress on both of those goals related to staff pay,” Somers added.
Somers outlined other improvements being implemented this year, including an anniversary award program that will issue bonuses to staff on their five-year anniversary dates, as well as an update to the number of years of experience accepted for placement on the D38 step schedule.
According to district leadership, annualized employees will receive updated contracts or notices of assignment to detail individualized pay changes in May.
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