Somerton School District employees to receive a 4% boost to their salary

SOMERTON – The Board of Trustees of the Somerton School District (SSD) approved a proposal for a general salary increase of 4% for district employees.

On April 9, the administration’s proposal was unanimously approved to take effect for the 2024-2025 school year.

The funds to finance the salary increase come from the state and are additional to the budget.

“The state gave us a 4% increase in the budget, and that’s what we are giving to the employees. Other districts choose to hold onto the money and give it the following year, but we are giving it in the same year,” noted SSD Superintendent Laura Noel.

Noel added that it is not ruled out that there may be additional state funds that reach school districts and allow for a larger salary increase.

“The legislature hasn’t finished, and if they add more, let’s say 2%, we would go back to add that additional 2% for a total of 6% in the contracts.”

Noel said that, although they offer competitive salaries, the challenge remains to fill teaching positions.

“It has been very difficult, although we have very competitive salaries, we are all short of teachers, it is difficult to find people who want to do that job, there is a shortage of teachers for everyone, especially qualified teachers,” she noted.

In this regard, in another decision, the district’s board approved an increase in the salary scale for teachers for the following year, raising the minimum base salary from $42,017 to $43,698, and the maximum from $52,473 to $54,572.

With the 4% increase approved on April 9, it will be the sixth consecutive year in which a salary increase has been granted to employees in the Somerton School District.