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."

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