Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is working to increase pay for all school staff to at least $20 per hour, according to a release from the school board Tuesday. 

To match current market conditions, CMS said it conducted a compensation review. The district had an external firm, Hurd Isenhour Lopes, conduct a compensation review of both hourly and salaried employees. The board presented the study in a meeting on Tuesday evening. 

“This will mark the first compensation study undertaken and implemented by CMS since 2007,” the board said. “A compensation study was done in 2018-19; however, it was not funded or implemented.”

Bus drivers, custodians, teacher assistants, clerical staff and maintenance workers will all receive a pay raise according to the wording. The school board will vote on the proposal during its Jan. 28 meeting.

Phased changes, implemented over the next few years, were proposed by the district. 

“The district will focus on implementing phase one in 2024-25. Ideally, implementation will begin following board approval in February 2025,” Chief Financial Officer Kelly Kluttz said, who estimates a cost of $25,664,241 to implement the phase one changes.

The first phase is focused on raising pay for all school staff to $20, and will not include a pay increase for all employees. The increase would also include retroactive pay back to July 1, 2024.

Phases two and three include acknowledgment, rewards and annual adjustments for employee years of service. 

“Currently, 3,866 employees earn less than $20 per hour, and 59% of the proposed budget increase is required to bring these salaries up to the new minimum rate,” the school board said. 

The review included 390 job titles across nine pay grades. Salary and compensation for certified employees, such as teachers, were not included in the study.

Click here to view a Q&A for the compensation study.