By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@thecitizennews.com

Partial implementation or a gradual phasing-in of the Fayette County School District's new unified salary schedule is one facet of the budgeting process now in the works.

The salary plan is an attempt to eliminate inequities in the current system, according to superintendent, Dr. John DeCotis. “We're putting everyone on one schedule,” he explained, “and we're addressing the levels and categories of jobs we have.”

The plan was compiled by Educational Performance Evaluation and Management Systems of America Inc. and includes a single salary schedule of 62 steps. From step one to step 62, each of the steps is 3 percent greater than the previous one. Every employee's step increase is 3 percent, regardless of where it falls on the salary schedule.

There are only about 15 current employees, according to findings, that fall outside the proposed salary range. Between 98 and 99 percent of the school district's employees fall within the range, the team from EPMS told the board.

“We need some structure to this, but we're not too far off,” board Chairman Debbie Condon said.

Salaries for teachers and school administrators in Fayette County are ranked between second and third compared to neighboring counties. This, according to the experts, is good, as ranking first means overcompensation for employees.

“If we're running second or third, we're doing pretty good... we'll not change too much,” said Condon.

DeCotis admitted the salary study was not perfect, but added, “It gives us a framework... once you get the rules down, it applies to every new hire.”