Waynesboro education association urges higher pay, warns veteran teacher attrition risk

Efren Brown, president of the Waynesboro Education Association and a second‑grade teacher at Winona Elementary, and Laura Riggin, a Waynesboro High School history teacher, told the board during the public hearing that Waynesboro’s teacher salaries fall below many regional and state benchmarks and that the gap widens at higher experience levels. "Your willingness to speak up for our schools and to ask for business to be conducted in a public meeting sends a powerful message," Brown said, thanking board members for advocacy with the city.

The presenters cited regional ranking data and asked the board to set three priorities for the 2026–27 budget: raise salaries across all benchmarks so Waynesboro ranks in the top half of the region; make top-of-scale pay more competitive to retain veteran teachers; and continue calibrating the step scale so teachers reach top pay earlier. "So our first goal is to improve salaries at all benchmarks so that Waynesboro is in the top half of the region," the presenters said.

They noted historical rank figures for veteran teachers and argued that without competitive upper‑scale pay, long‑serving teachers may leave for districts that pay more. The association thanked the board for shortening the step scale this year toward that change and urged continued, measured progress.

Board members did not take action during the hearing; the board later closed the public comment period by voice vote. Superintendent Dr. Castle acknowledged the presentation and said the administration would continue to work on compensation, but he cautioned that state and local revenue constraints limit how large a one‑year increase the division can sustainably absorb. "The governor's budget has an increase of $2,800,000," Dr. Castle said, but he noted the final state contribution depends on the General Assembly and that the state share typically covers only part of local raise costs.