Teachers, staff to see raises, stipends

Fort Sumner Schools employees will see an average raise of about seven percent in 2022-23, as well as a return-to-work stipend at the end of the current year following action March 28 by the school board.

Meeting in special session, the board voted unanimously to approve salary schedules for instructional staff, administrators, educational assistants, as well as clerical and maintenance personnel.

The raises for instructional personnel range from 14.12 percent to 16.16 percent, depending on teaching level, years of experience and degrees, said Business Manager Lisa Downey.

Support staff raises range from 5.12 percent to 16.97 percent, with the majority in the five percent range.

The salary schedule for instructional personnel establishes minimums that are $1,000 above the state-mandated minimums approved in the recent legislative session.

The one-time stipends, which will be paid only to returning employees, will be based on .25 percent of three percent of an employee’s salary, paid in the current fiscal year to reduce the burden on the 2022-23 budget.