Full-Day Kindergarten Expands, First-year Teachers’ Salary Rises
Expanding full-day kindergarten and boosting teacher salaries to stay competitive with other areas top the list of new initiatives contained in the 2007 Prince William County Public Schools budget approved by the School Board last night.
The board’s $739.6 million operating budget is consistent with the five-year spending plan and revenue sharing agreement with Prince William County . Covering costs for an anticipated 2,200 new students, along with unavoidable increases in insurance and benefit expenditures, the proposal maintains current levels of programs and services across the School Division. It also makes important new investments in the educational program and critical support activities in keeping with School Board priorities.
Highlights include:
- Expanding the full-day kindergarten program from one to more than two-thirds of all elementary schools
- Providing market-driven adjustments to teacher pay scales to help recruit and retain the most qualified; featuring a 3% step increase; an average of a 3% pay plan adjustment; and an additional 3.3% average increase for teachers in their first three years of teaching.
- Funding the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme at eight schools.
- Expanding Baldrige in the Classroom to eight additional schools;
- Guaranteeing a six-hour minimum work week—to bus drivers who want it—along with and membership in the Virginia Retirement System to aid in recruitment and retention of drivers.
Funds are included for the opening of two new elementary and one middle school in September 2006; construction of the new administration building; elementary school additions and renewals; and start-up costs for a new western Prince William middle school that will open in FY 2008.
3/30/06
