Dorchester District Two plans significant salary raise for teachers in upcoming budget

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Teachers in Dorchester School District Two (DD2) could soon see a salary increase.

District leaders are working on the proposed budget for next school year, which plans to increase the starting teacher salary by nearly $6,000.

Superintendent Dr. Shane Robbins said the district is looking for ways to bring the best educators into its classrooms.

“Also, it is to make sure that we have manageable student-teacher ratios because that is really important for academic achievement and student achievement,” he said. “As our enrollment grows, we need more staff members to support those young kids in the classrooms.”

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The superintendent has named teacher recruitment and retention as his priorities as the district continues to grow.

“We’ve got three of the five or six largest school districts in the state of South Carolina that all neighbor one another. So, we're obviously competing for the same educators into the field. So, it is challenging,” Superintendent Robbins said.

District leaders say they’re starting with teacher pay.

The proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year would increase the district’s starting teacher salary from $43,500 to $49,000. It would make DD2’s starting pay $2,000 higher than the soon-to-be statewide requirement of a $47,000 starting teacher salary.

“We are willing to really go above and beyond anything that the state wants us to do. We want to make sure that our people know that we care about them, that we appreciate them, we love them. And so, this is just a very tangible way that we can literally put money into their pocket,” said Justin Farnsworth, a Board of Trustees member.

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School board members on Monday night approved bonuses for new teachers signing on, and those who have been with DD2 for years. The highest bonus is an extra $1,250 for teachers with over 20 years of experience in the district.

“I think you have to look at folks that are willing to stand the test of time, because as you are in a school district, the longer you are there, I think the bigger impact you're able to make in that district,” Farnsworth said.

The superintendent and the school board said they want to thank educators for being a part of “Team Dorchester,” while also recognizing the growing cost of living in the area.

“These are folks that go to school for a long time, they're experts at education, and if you can't bring them in and pay them a livable wage, it's just not treating someone like a professional,” Farnsworth said.

The district’s proposed budget will go before the Dorchester County Council on May 13.

It will then require final approval from the school board in June after the state budget is approved.