Teachers urge pay equity as district launches compensation study

Kimberly Mason, a school nurse who presented on behalf of the Petersburg Education Association, told the Petersburg City Public Schools board that veteran teachers are leaving because of pay disparities and sign-on bonuses for new hires. "Returning teachers should never make less than new hires," Mason said, describing the emotional and practical toll on long-serving staff who mentor newcomers.

In public comment, Michael (MJ), a science teacher at Jones Middle School, said the district’s current incentives have created a retention problem. "If we don't do something, people are going to leave," he said, urging immediate action so experienced teachers are not driven away.

The board responded by outlining a district-wide compensation and classification study already under way. Superintendent Brown and HR staff said PCPS contracted Evergreen Solutions to conduct the review. The study’s first phase will gather employee input through surveys and small-group focus sessions; subsequent phases include job assessments, a market survey and written recommendations. Superintendent Brown said the study is scheduled to be completed and presented to the board by Oct. 30, 2025.

Board members and district staff said the study is intended to address disparities cited by teachers and to propose concrete remedies such as adjustments to the salary schedule, retention bonuses or step increases tied to years of service. Dr. Long Lane (HR) described outreach plans to solicit staff feedback and said the district will use the study results to align pay practices with comparable Virginia school systems in the region.

The presentation and public comments did not produce a board vote on pay changes at the meeting; instead, trustees approved the study process and asked staff to return with concrete recommendations and estimated costs once the vendor’s analysis is complete.