LET THERE BE LIGHTS
After nearly two months of uncertainty, the Mississippi Department of Education has finalized the total for pay raises.
On Monday, MDE announced that the number of positions covered by the raise was now 40,991 professionals, up from the $31,157 at an additional cost of $18.5 million.
The move makes up for an initial shortfall the MDE discovered after conducting an additional review of the total number of state-funded teaching positions to be affected by a $1,500 raise approved by the Mississippi State Legislature during the past legislative session.
During the review, the MDE determined there were additional state-funded positions outside of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (Maep)-funded positions.
Starkville-oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Eddie Peasant explained the announcement meant the decision was final.
“Basically they just let us know that the teacher pay raise has been finalized by the MDE at the state board to pay for all the raises that included the original 30,000 educators who were included in the raise in addition to the ones who were left off,” Peasant said. “That brings it to a total of just under 41,000 educators that are eligible for the raise.”
In addition to teachers, the educators slated to receive the $1,500 raise now includes specialized positions including dyslexia therapists, intervention specialists, audiologists and psychologists among other professionals. Previously, it was only applied to teachers, teacher assistants, librarians and school counselors.
Districts will be allocated enough money through the current appropriation to cover the monthly cost of the raise. The MDE will continue to work with legislators to secure a deficit appropriation in January to fully fund the raise.
Peasant said any previous shortfalls in the district related to the initial error should now be filled.
“I have not had the chance to speak with my CFO to compare what they have approved to our list, but I feel confident that it covers all of them,” Peasant said. “We haven't received anything denying anything on the report that we've sent in.”
Peasant said with the pay raise now fully funded, the district would be able to return the contingency it set aside when the initial issues came to light to its general fund. He said the district was now more able to celebrate the pay raise.
“We celebrated when the raise was approved, but we haven't truly been able to celebrate because of everything that was still unfinished in regards to all of this,” Peasant said.
Peasant said the district was pleased to be able to better compensate its teachers but acknowledged more support was needed.
“It's still not nearly what teachers are worth, but it does take a step in that direction of showing appreciation to our teachers who are on the ground doing the work every day,” Peasant said. “We just hope this allows them to realize that community, the state and everyone else involved appreciate the hard work that they're doing.”