Oglethorpe County Schools teachers and employees are welcoming a pay increase next year, but some say the district still faces challenges competing with neighboring school systems for talent.
The local supplement for certified staff will increase from $1,200 to $2,500 a year, and classified employees will receive up to a 2% raise. Both are based on the upcoming 2027 fiscal year budget, which projects $31.6 million in revenue and $35.1 million in expenditures.
“I think it's a significant improvement,” said Chad Galloway, an Oglethorpe County Elementary School teacher. “We’re still competing with neighboring districts that can offer considerably higher salaries though, so the challenge I think that we have is making sure that Oglethorpe remains competitive when talented teachers are deciding where to go to work.”
Compared to other districts in the region, Oglethorpe County still has the lowest local supplement for beginning teachers, according to Superintendent Beverley Levine. The local supplement increase “still puts us as the lowest in our 13-county school system area, even with more than doubling it,” she said at the June 2 Board of education meeting.
For example, Greene County’s supplement is $4,032, and Clarke County has a $6,697 supplement, according to the districts' salary schedules.
“We’re trying to help raise the county supplement so that we are more competitive with the surrounding counties for retention of our teachers,” BOE member Susan Robinson said at the meeting.
Galloway taught in Clarke County for nine years before coming to Oglethorpe County. He said the district’s strong community and school system make it unique.
“Although we have a fantastic district with a lot of wonderful intangibles, compensation does matter when people are deciding to begin or where to continue their careers,” Galloway said.
According to the data, bus drivers, nurses and custodial staff are among the lowest paid classified employees compared to neighboring districts. Paraprofessionals, however, are paid more than those in several nearby districts.
Jill Barnes, an Oglethorpe County Middle School teacher and alumna, began her career as a paraprofessional. She said although she was not the lead teacher, she felt supported in the classroom.
“Every decision that is made within our district, whether it's an administrative decision, a board decision or a superintendent’s decision, is made with a lot of thought,” Barnes said. “It is made with a lot of concern for teachers but also the students.”
She said salary plays an important role in employee retention, but so does feeling respected and valued in the workplace.
“For me, being satisfied, happy and content in my job is more important than salary itself,” Barnes said.