Pay hikes for Carson City teachers approved

The Carson City School Board on Tuesday approved salary increases for teachers and education support professionals to take effect in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 with retroactive pay to be applied as of approval.

The previous salary for Carson teachers – $43,000 – has been raised to $52,000, the highest starting income in Northern Nevada.

The pay increase plan, through a ratified agreement with the district’s collective bargaining groups Ormsby County Education Association and Carson Educational Support Association, was approved in 4-0 and 5-0 votes, respectively, by the school board trustees with Trustee Molly Walt abstaining from the OCEA vote. Trustees Joe Cacioppo and Mike Walker were absent from the meeting.

“With these measures, our school board affirms our commitment to valuing teachers and ensuring their continued professional growth and job satisfaction,” said Dan Sadler, associate superintendent of Human Resources for the Carson City School District.

Staff members with the OCEA will receive $7,000 increases for FY24 and $1,200 for FY25. Longevity categories and pay have been revised, and supplemental positions have been updated, Superintendent Andrew Feuling said.

“Going back to January, when we started the (legislative) process, this is nowhere near what I thought we were going to be consider given our hold harmless status,” he said. “This is a significant turnaround.”

The overall fiscal impact for OCEA’s increases is $6.5 million.

For CESA, staff increases amount to 14% for FY24 and 0% for FY25 with a fiscal impact of $3.2 million, Feuling said.

The pay increases are intended to attract and retain top-notch teaching talent and further enhance the quality of education provided to students within the district, according to the district.

“Our teachers and education support professionals are the backbone of our educational system,” Feuling said. “They tirelessly invest in the future of our children and work to shape bright minds. By approving these pay increases, we not only demonstrate our gratitude for their unwavering commitment and dedication to the academic excellence of our students now and in the future, but also reestablish Carson City School District as place that potential employees want to work. Our children deserve no less than the best, and we have firmly planted that flag in the ground.”

Salary increases in fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025 for associate superintendents, directors, managers and other employees not covered by association contracts were tabled by the board after Walt requested supporting documentation, which was not available in the board packet, outlining salary schedules before approving these increases. The potential fiscal impact would be $416,181 as budgeted.

Board President Laurel Crossman said she didn’t recall having documentation available in previous years for this group of employees.

The item was continued to the Aug. 8 board meeting.