Thanks to the efforts of Coweta County School Board member Brian Roy, the system's classified employees are getting another raise.

The Coweta County School Board unanimously approved the raise Tuesday night. School Finance Director Keith Chapman estimated the cost of the raise at $500,000.

Public Information Officer Dean Jackson said the step increase will have an effective date of July 1, 2005.� Ten and eleven month employees will have raises starting on their August and September paychecks as usual;� twelve-month employees will have a retroactive adjustment in August and a regular payment in September.

In June, the board provided a local-and-state-funded 2 percent raise for certified teachers, and a locally-funded two percent raise for classified employees.� Classified employees, however, were not approved for a step increase based on experience.�

Jackson said the raises apply to teacher assistants, custodians, school food service employees, maintenance workers, transportation employees, clerical staff, nurses and certain technology positions.