BLYTHEWOOD—Administrators are making more and teachers are making less in the Richland Two School District.
In 2017-18, the average teacher salaries dropped from $52,092 to $51,802, while average administrator salaries rose from $95,003 to $96,193, the South Carolina Department of Education Report Card data shows.
A similar trend occurred in Fairfield County School District.
In 2017-2018, average administrator salaries were $85,575, up from $84,833 the year before, according to report card data.
Average Fairfield County School District teacher salaries, however, declined from last year, falling from $49,504 to $49,288.
At the Dec. 18 Fairfield County School District meeting, Dr. J.R. Green, superintendent of Fairfield County schools, said in the past year he’s forgone receiving a pay raise.
However, when board member Paula Hartman asked Green to state his salary, Green said he didn’t know the figure. The Voice has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for that information.
In Fairfield County, the inverse relationship between administrator and teacher pay comes as district leaders continue pressing for the creation of a Teacher Village, a proposed subdivision catering to educators.
Affordable housing, they say, is key to recruiting and retaining teachers.
“People who live in a home are going to stay longer than in an apartment,” said Dr. Sue Rex, chairwoman of the Fairfield education foundation, which is working with the district on the Teacher Village project.
Fairfield County lags behind Richland Two in most teacher retention categories.
Richland Two reported 86 percent of teachers returning from the previous year, compared to 82.6 percent in Fairfield. Richland Two (86.6 percent) also leads Fairfield (81.3 percent) in teachers returning – three year average, according to report card data.
Finally, only 63.2 percent of Fairfield teachers are on a continuing contract, compared to 75 percent in Richland Two.
At the Fairfield County School District’s October meeting, the board voted to appropriate $1 million from its $3.5 million surplus for salaries.
However, the money won’t be budgeted until 2018-2019 and it includes all district employees, not just teachers. The remaining $2.5 million was earmarked to fund facility needs.
It’s absolutely amazing how “The Voice” reports some of the most inaccurate information and pieces stories together for the detriment of those in Fairfield County! I encourage people to READ between the lines!!! There are several factors that affect what salary a teacher or administrator makes based off of years of experience. Noticeably missing from the front page is how NOT ONE OF OUR Fairfield Xounty Schools were not listed as a failing schools from the state report card, I wonder which Districts has schools listed. We will wait… #theywontrespomd
I generally don’t respond, but felt compelled because this story was so misleading. On last year the FCSD increased the teacher salary schedule by 2%. The state funded a 1% increase for “teachers only,” however the FCSD provided a 2% increase for all employees. A decrease in “average” teacher salary is primarily a function of veteran teachers retiring or exiting the system, and novice teachers entering the system. The article implies that teachers are making less when in fact they are making more. If Mr. Smith was interested in unbiased reporting, he could have compared the the salary schedules from the past two years and confirmed teachers received an increase.
Quote from story: “No Fairfield County school was rated Unsatisfactory.”
Give the teachers more money directly in their paycheck and let THEM decide where they want to live. The fact that there is discussion of alternative occupants in the ” teacher village” ( i.e. Administrative personnel and EMS) if teachers don’t participate suggests this is a questionable venture to begin with. Refocus on improving education and literally paying higher salaries and good teachers will drive to Fairfield!