Longtime teachers in the Wright City R-II School District will see an additional increase in their compensation beginning in the 2021-22 year. The school board approved the salary schedule during its monthly meeting on June 24, focusing particularly on rewarding the commitment of veteran educators. 

“Through our three salary committees that met, the feedback we received was that on the front end, we are really competitive with other districts,” said Superintendent Dr. Chris Berger. “The back of our schedule needed a little bit of work.”

The board decided to implement a one-percent increase to the salary schedule across the board for all certified staff members. Those who have 20 years or more in education will receive an extra $500 to their salary base on top of the one-percent raise.

“In our region, folks are realizing that Wright City has come a long way in its salary schedule,” said Berger. “That’s all in an effort to recruit and maintain the best teachers. The number one thing that impacts the classroom is the teacher.”

With the approved changes, the lowest salary for a first-year R-II teacher is now $40,650 for a Bachelor’s Degree level staff. The salary schedule caps out on the high-end at $83,400 for a teacher with multiple degrees and certifications who has been in education for 42 years. 

The board also approved a two-percent increase to the salary schedule for administrators and classified staff. Additionally, those who are non-contracted extra duty employees will see their pay increase from $20 to $25 per hour.

Berger said there was about $400,000 available to go toward financing the increases. The board looks to the staff for direction on how to disperse those funds, with the three committees each meeting twice at elementary and secondary levels. 

“We identify how much money we think we can allocate to salaries,” said Berger. “Once we agree that there’s only this much money, then it comes down to where we want to put that money.”

He said one of the questions the district often fields is where the funding for increasing salaries come from.

“Our assessed valuation and projections of growth help give us those figures,” said Berger. “Historically, we’ve been on a four to six percent increase pattern. The growth we’re seeing in our assessed valuation is how we’re supporting that.”

R-II did not increase its base pay last year, as one of the many districts which put the process on hold during the uncertainty of COVID-19. Employees did, however, receive their salary step as previously scheduled.