Five percent pay hike eyed for employees of MC schools

Would come over two years

by Larry Chowning – 

The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors (MCBS) appears to have found a way to leverage enough funding to receive $160,000 in state funds to support a 2.5% salary increase plus a salary step advancement for school employees in the fiscal year 2021-2022 proposed budget.

This year’s step advancement along with next year’s step and salary scale increase would equal a 5% increase in compensation for school employees over the two-year period, which is what was required to receive the state’s funding.

Superintendent Peter Gretz notified supervisors at the work session that there will be approximately $250,000 left over from the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget due to issues surrounding COVID-19. The schools have unused funds left from not using substitute teachers, coaches, not running buses and not taking field trips.

Dr. Gretz also reminded supervisors some expenses, normally paid out of the budget, have been paid with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security…