Teachers who spoke during public comment urged the Accomack County School Board to address pay compression and the perceived de‑valuation of long service; later that night the board approved a revised teacher salary scale and asked central office to consider grandfathering higher steps for the most veteran teachers.

Sarah Scott, a secondary teacher, told the board she holds two master’s degrees and argued that “experience is undervalued due to the compression in our pay structure,” warning the district risks losing veteran teachers to other divisions. Tracy Robbins, a 38‑year teacher in the county, said staff had been told earlier in the budget cycle that veteran teachers could expect larger increases and said the proposed pay scale posted later capped years at 30 rather than 34, reducing increases for teachers at 31–34 years of service.

Board members discussed the timing of salary documents and whether staff should have shared the proposed scale earlier. After a closed session, a board member moved to approve the teacher salary scale “as presented while asking the central office to consider grandfathering the higher scale, 30 plus years.” The motion passed by voice vote; the chair announced that the motion carried.

Board and central office staff also acknowledged teacher concerns and the need for clearer communication. During the meeting central office staff had noted that some analyses (an “Evergreen study”) did not include teacher salaries, and that classified and administrative pay processes differ.

The board approved the scale but instructed central office to evaluate whether veteran teachers in the 31–34‑year band should receive transitional adjustments (a grandfathering approach) and to report back to the board.