• Certified Staff – Local districts shall give all certified staff a salary increase of not less than $3,000 in FY 07-08.  The $3,000 must be given in each cell of the salary schedule.  Salary increases are in addition to normal rank and step increases.  Some media reports have indicated that the General Assembly raised the amount of the salary increase for FY 07-08 to $3,500.  This is NOT the case.  The additional $500 in pay is simply the anticipated increase for a teacher earning an average teacher’s salary for working two additional days.  It is unclear if districts that already have 177 days must add two more, but bear in mind that this would be the only way teachers will receive an additional increase on top of the $3,000 in FY 07-08.  The Department of Education will have to provide clarification on this issue.

• Classified Staff – Local districts shall give all classified staff a salary increase of 5 percent in FY 07-08.  In FY 07-08, no classified employee shall receive a salary increase in excess of $2,500.  Classified employees who work less than full-time shall receive a pro rata share of the salary increase based on terms of their employment.  The salary increases are in addition to increases that may result from new duties or qualifications.

A 1 percent increase to the SEEK base was added in the House budget for FY 07-08 to provide a cushion for districts in consideration of the rank and step increases districts must give along with the mandated salary increases.