Roughly 1,600 Buncombe County Schools employees, such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers, could get raises if the new county budget passes this summer.

The raise proposal would affect noncertified staff members, including food service employees, bus drivers, secretaries, custodians and many others.

What You Need To Know

  • Thousands of employees would get raises if the Buncombe County Schools budget is approved

  • Noncertified staff, like bus drivers and food workers, would get at least $15 an hour

  • A living wage in Asheville is estimated to be $17.70 an hour, according to a BCS-commissioned study

The raises, as proposed, would bring the salaries to $15 an hour, or provide a 2.5% raise — whichever is larger for the employee. At a minimum, all noncertified workers would get $15 an hour, in coordination with a recently passed state law, according to the district.

However, BCS staff and leadership acknowledged the move would still mean some salaries would stay below the rising cost of living in Asheville, estimated to be more than $17 an hour.

The cost of these raises for school staff, which includes other certified positions, would be $15.2 million.

“This is my — going into my 14th year as superintendent — the biggest ask I’ve ever come up here for. I’ll also tell you, in my career, I’ve never seen a time where it’s needed more. We’ve got to have these people, these are our MVPs out there,” said superintendent Tony Baldwin during the BCS budget presentation to the county in May.

During the same presentation, BCS staff acknowledged its own salary study determined the cost of living for the Asheville area had risen to $17.70 an hour.

The $15.2 million proposal includes a step increase and 1.3% raise, an average of 2.5% total, for certified staff across all salary steps. Noncertified staff would receive the larger amount of a new $15 an hour minimum or 2.5% salary increase, according to Baldwin’s presentation. The $15.2 million also includes rising costs of retirement and hospitalization rates. 

Some staff members in a BCS cafeteria said the raises would be welcome.

Kathleen Lawlor is the cafeteria manager at Valley Springs Middle School and is in her 20th year with the school district.

“There’s children who really need this food. Hungry children don’t learn well. So, it’s a source of pride to be able to help in that part of a child’s education,” Lawlor said.

Lawlor started working with the school district to get on the same daily schedule as her children. Twenty years later, she said it’s time for a raise.

“It’s needed, people work hard here and they love what they do, they want to continue what they do, but it’s hard. The cost of living is astronomical. We just need to be brought up to more of a living wage,” Lawlor said.

Lawlor said she participated in the school district’s salary study, which was used in the explanation for the raise proposal to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, and is thrilled it could lead to salary increases for noncertified employees like her.

“Real excited — it’s been a long time. I couldn’t tell you the last time we’ve gotten a raise,” Lawlor said.

Lawlor said she and her colleagues proved their worth, feeding hungry children during the pandemic.

“It’s nice that they recognize that. Sometimes we’re unsung ... we’re forgotten about. But it’s nice to be considered and recognized for the work that we do,” Lawlor said.

The raises would be a start, but Lawlor and school officials acknowledge the raises would not meet Asheville’s projected cost of living. 

Lawlor works two jobs and said a larger salary with BCS could help her get some rest.

“If we were able to get living wage in Buncombe County, I might be able to not have to work seven days a week. And, I can spend some more time resting or with my family,” Lawlor said.

Buncombe County commissioners are expected to vote on the budget later this month, according to BCS staff.