Alcoa City Schools proposing 1% raise

The Alcoa Board of Education this week approved a 2024-25 budget with a 1% raise for employees on top of step increases.

The $31.1 million general purpose budget is $1.9 million more than the current year. Of that, $1.45 million is to replace the elementary school roof, with the school district using $750,000 from its fund balance, previously undesignated funds, and the city of Alcoa expected to contribute $700,000.

The cost of the 1% raise is $198,600, and step increases total $168,000.

The board unanimously approved the budget Tuesday, April 16, with member Steve Marsh absent.

$52,250

The Alcoa City Schools budget would bring the starting pay for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no experience to $52,250.

Maryville City Schools has proposed starting pay of $50,750 next year and Blount County Schools $50,000. Under state law all public school districts must have a minimum teacher salary of at least $50,000 by the 2026-27 school year, and Alcoa hit that mark in the 2022-23 school year.

The city and county governments still must approve their school districts’ budgets. BCS is the only one with a revenue shortfall in its proposed budget, nearly $4 million.

Evaluations

During the Tuesday meeting at Alcoa High School, the board also approved an evaluation of Director Becky Stone, giving her an overall average of 4.97 on a 5-point scale, the same rating as last year.

She received the highest possible rating, 5, on seven of the nine categories. The board awarded her a 4.8 on promoting a professional community for all employees and 4.9 on the professional capacity category, for hiring, developing and retaining professional staff.

Stone thank the board for its encouragement and trust.

She is seeking a two-year extension on her contract, to return it to a four-year contract. The school board is expected to consider that extension at its May 21 meeting.

The board’s self-evaluation was an overall average of 4.88, the same as last year. Board members gave themselves 5s on three of the five categories. They averaged 4.6 on community and school improvement and 4.8 on working well as a team.