Updated 6/14/23

The Task Force, a group of teachers, administrators, the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, community members, and teacher recruiters, recommended that for teachers to be able to afford to live and work in Charleston the starting salary needed to be $58,000. This was developed by taking a close look at housing costs that have driven many of our teachers out of our schools. This admittedly bold proposal would have meant a $15,000 increase in teacher salaries. Knowing that this may not be achievable in one budget cycle, the task force proposed getting starting teacher pay to $50,000 this year, a $7,000 increase for every teacher this year, with a plan to get to $58,000 in two years. 

This has been the rallying cry for the past three months, as teachers and community members have written hundreds of public comments to the board, had dozens of speakers address the board, and written countless emails. We have circulated a petition that has garnered 2,900 signatures from community members who support a $7,000 salary increase by increasing the millage rate by a modest 10 mills. (The allowable for this year would be 14.5.) Yet, here we are in June with teachers still in limbo. https://chng.it/xDRrJpSwnW

After all of this advocacy, the superintendent has said the most the district can allot in this budget cycle is a $5,000 dollar salary increase. Then the board, after delaying a first reading of the budget, proposed a $5,000 bonus funded by ESSER, American Rescue Plan’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, funds. While neither of these would be enough on its own to help alleviate the dire teacher recruitment and retention issues in CCSD, together they would be a good first step. This would ensure every teacher next year will make at least $50k. Some of the ESSER funds are earmarked for teacher retention and recruitment, so the bonus would be an appropriate use of those funds. Since this would be taxed at a higher rate, we feel that a bonus of at least $5K in addition to the $5K salary increase would be the best way to get as close to the $7K increase this year as possible, and help make a dent in the current vacancies for the coming school year. This, of course, would need to be couled with a two year plan to get CCSD teachers to the livable wage of $58,000 starting salary. 

Original Ask:

The time has come for the final push for a livable wage for teachers in Charleston County, and we need your help! Without a significant salary increase this year, we will find ourselves without enough teachers for our students. Here is how you can help: 

Please sign this petition if you support a 10 mill increase to fund teacher compensation in Charleston County. This could bring starting teacher salary up to $50,000 and increase every cell on the salary scale by $7,000 up to 40 years of experience. This will relieve the teacher shortage crisis and ensure Charleston County students not only have a teacher, but they have the best teachers! 

What is millage and how this will affect you: 
For everything the State’s projected revenues do not cover, state law gives school boards the authority to raise taxes locally by raising the millage on non-owner occupied property (second homes, business, boats, cars, etc.) to make up the difference (1 mill = $3,000,000). The total allowable millage a school board can raise each year by law varies; this year, the millage cap for the CCSD board is 14.5 mills, or roughly $43,500,000.  The value of a mill represents the amount of property tax revenue one mill will generate.  A mill equals 1/1000 of the assessed value of the property subject to property taxes. For example, if the assessed value of a property totals $100,000 the value of a mill is $100. The estimated cost of increasing teacher salaries in CCSD by between $5,000 and $10,000 which may be possible with an increase of 7.1 to 14.5 mills. The school operating millage table shows the value of a school operating mill for each school district.  Click here to learn more about millage. https://rfa.sc.gov/data-research/local-government/property-tax/property-FAQ#:~:text=A%20mill%20equals%201/1000,mill%20for%20each%20school%20district