Registrars, classified staff urge PCSSD to include pay increases; district hears impacts on enrollment and retention

A string of registrars and classified staff used public comment at the May 13 Pulaski County Special School District board meeting to press for inclusion in pay increases and to describe retention problems tied to low wages.

Registrars from multiple PCSSD schools described jobs that have grown in scope and importance — enrolling students, maintaining permanent records and ensuring accurate district funding data — and said their current starting wage makes it difficult to retain experienced employees. “Annually that’s $21,000 a year,” said Michelle Williams, a registrar at Mills High and Mills Middle, describing the $12.04 hourly starting rate currently listed for PCSSD registrars. Williams compared that figure to neighboring pay scales, saying Little Rock’s starting hourly rate is $17.51 and Amazon’s starting wage is $18.50.

Others made the broader case for classified pay adjustments. Sheila Hulsizer, registrar at Sylvan Hills Junior High, asked the board to reclassify registrars from “range 3” to “range 6.” Sunshine Crawford of Oak Brook Elementary asked board members to include registrars in pay increases already discussed for transportation, paras and other classified titles. Community volunteer Juanita Croon asked the district to partner with elected officials to seek state allocations and proposed a plan to raise all classified employees earning under $30,000 up to $30,000 and to add a 10% lift for others.

Classified PPC findings Classified Personnel Policy Council (PPC) chair Miss Nichols presented results of a classified climate survey taken this spring. She said 74% of respondents would recommend PCSSD as a place to work and nearly 80% would recommend their school or department — but she also said many classified employees reported financial strain and that some rely on government assistance. Nichols said the PPC will use the survey results to advocate for pay and other improvements in 2025–26.

Why this matters Registrars play a central role in student enrollment data that informs state funding. Board members and administrators recognized the recruitment and retention angle: losing registrars or other classified staff can directly affect attendance accounting and the district’s revenues.

Board response and next steps Board members acknowledged the comments; administration said classified allocation proposals and specific range adjustments were on the agenda for board action later in the meeting and would be considered. Classified allocations and related range adjustments were approved later in the meeting as part of the consent and business items.

Clarifying details - PCSSD starting registrar hourly pay cited in public comment: $12.04 ($21,000 annual estimate). - Comparators mentioned in public comment: Little Rock School District $17.51/hour (approx. $29,416/year); Amazon starting wage cited at $18.50/hour; Buc ee’s starting wage cited at $20/hour (local hiring advertisements).

Speakers from the meeting urged the board to pursue state funding and legislative strategies to increase classified pay and to resume stakeholder meetings so employees and parents can hear concrete plans.