Personnel Costs Set to Rise for Rockwood With Approval of Raises

A recent round of pay increases for teachers and administrative staff at Rockwood will not come cheaply for the district, according to information provided by school officials.

It’s predicted that the measures, which are aimed at increasing the rate of salary increases employees receive, will add more than $1 million to the district’s personnel costs next year.

In passing the upped salaries, district officials and school board members said they were necessary to retain Rockwood's reputation for educational excellence and in recognition of the community's appreciation for its teachers. 

Previously, the district had budgeted around $2.5 million for teacher salary increases next year, which took into account raises of 2.75 percent. The recently re-negotiated agreement between the board and the RNEA takes that rate up to 3.76 percent.

Given the size of Rockwood, the county's largest school district, even that small increase has a big impact. The district said it will cost an extra $839,333, bringing the amount needed for teacher raises up to $3.4 million.

In total, the district is projected this year to spend around $90 million on salaries for its teachers. Next year, that amount will rise to $93.5 million, then up to $97 million in 2014-15 and $99 million in 2015-16, when the current contract will expire.

In April, the board approved a revised administrative pay plan after a committee formed to investigate the issue said such staff members received some of the lowest average pay in St. Louis County.

The three-year plan will seek to bring their salaries more in line with the county averaging, meaning some administrators may receive bigger jumps in pay than others.

Overall, it is expected to increase personnel costs for administrators by $350,000.  Following its approval, the RNEA made its request that the board re-open negotiations on their current contract.

The increases come at a time when the district was already projecting an $11 million dollar deficit for next year, it's first deficit in at least three years. 

For now, Rockwood Chief Communications Officer Kim Cranston said the additional cost of the new salary schedules, like the rest of the deficit, will be covered by drawing down the district’s reserves, which are expected to stand at around $50 million by the end of this fiscal year.