Back-to-school for Wake teachers, who have days to get ready for students

Under the school system’s new budget, teachers and principals would receive 4% increases to their local salary supplements, instead of 2.5% increases the school board originally promised. For teachers, that would be between $276.08 to $541.60 more.

The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 29, and the district is working to address a bus driver shortage.

Wake school board raises pay for employees, approves more than $2B budget

Wake school bus routes will be longer this fall as driver shortage worsens

Even with the changes, the driver shortage has not improved. The Wake County Public School System is currently redrawing routes to make sure every student can still get a ride, but parents are reminded routes will take longer and many buses will be at full capacity.

To prevent too many disruptions, the school system will use substitute drivers, offer stipends for any students whose bus routes have no permanent driver and continue to recruit more drivers.

An increase in “double-back” routes that allow drivers to do multiple routes in one morning or afternoon, will also mean some students will arrive at school earlier than they did last year and leave later than they did last year, by as many as 40 minutes instead of 30 minutes, Superintendent Cathy Moore said.

One of the district's newest schools is Barton Pond Elementary on Strickland Road in Raleigh. Wake County added the new elementary school in northwest Raleigh in an effort to relieve overcrowding as the district continues to grow.

"I'm excited for [students] to come into class where I get to sit beside them and open a book with them and be there one-on-one," said Maggie Rabil, who will be teaching at Barton Pond.

Rabil started her teaching career virtually during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I have the best job ever," said Rabil. "I get to wake up, motivate and just have fun with my kids."

In addition to the 4% increase to local salary supplements for teachers and principals, the district also approved a raise for hourly employees.

The budget also includes staffing for four new schools, maintenance, special education and some additional hires in human resources, technology and support services.

Raises will be reflected in September pay checks, and pay will also reflect higher wages dating back to July 1 — the start of the fiscal year.

Right now, Wake schools are currently short about 400 teachers.

"Positions that may not normally be classrooms positions at a school can be used to cover those positions, you know, teachers filing in where they can, helping with lesson plans" said A.J. Muttilo, the assistant superintend for HR at WCPSS.

The 3.4 vacancy rate for teachers is up slightly from the state of school last year.