Lancaster County schools propose pay bumps, longevity bonuses as insurance costs loom

Lancaster County public-school officials presented a budget plan at a Jan. 29 joint work session with the Board of Supervisors that includes two salary-increase options for teachers and staff, a proposed longevity-bonus program for licensed staff and expected energy savings when geothermal and solar systems come online at the new high school.

"This is about investing in our people," Jessica, the school presenter, told the board as she outlined the options. Option 1 would deliver roughly a 2% total increase (a step plus a 0.5 percentage point across-the-board adjustment) and would set starting teacher pay at about $51,085.02. Option 2 would amount to a roughly 3% total increase (1.5% step plus 1.5% across-the-board) and would raise the starting teacher salary toward $52,036.08. Administrators and directors would receive 1.5% under both options, Jessica said.

School staff also flagged a potential sharp rise in health-insurance costs: Jessica said the current draft assumes a worst-case, 20% premium increase and that the budget currently includes…