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Board, lawmakers discuss teacher pay, rising PEIA costs and incentives to retain staff
Summary
Preston County officials and state legislators discussed rising PEIA insurance costs, the difficulty recruiting and retaining teachers and service personnel, and possible changes to retirement and leave incentives to improve retention.
District leaders and legislators spent significant time on pay, benefits and retention issues that board members say threaten teacher and support-staff recruitment.
Board members described the challenge of retaining staff when PEIA health-insurance costs rise and local salaries lag neighboring counties. "We're losing qualified individuals because they can go to another county or state with an excess levy to make more pay," a board member said.
Legislators and board members discussed the existing step and cost-of-living increases, but participants said insurance increases have eroded net take-home pay for younger staff. One legislator proposed incentives that would let younger employees bank or convert leave days into retirement credit to encourage retention, noting that employees hired after certain dates cannot currently purchase additional service credit.
Board staff described operational responses the district already uses: spreading insurance deductions across paychecks to preserve take-home pay and using targeted grants where possible. Several attendees urged that cost-of-living and step increases alone would not close the gap with nearby jurisdictions unless benefit cost growth is addressed.
No pay scale change was adopted at the session; legislators asked for specific cost figures on proposals and said their committees would continue to examine PEIA and retirement incentives.
