New State Superintendent Request For Teacher Pay Increase In Next Budget

The proposal comes amid a decline in school staff as nearly 1,500 teaching jobs remain vacant across the state.

A new South Carolina school superintendent revealed her priorities for spending over $800 million on K-12 education in the next state budget.

Republican Ellen Weaver, was sworn into office last month and this is her first budget request as state superintendent.

The proposal comes amid a decline in school staff as nearly 1,500 teaching jobs remain vacant across the state.

Weaver is asking lawmakers to increase the statewide starting salary for teachers from $40,000 to $42,500. Governor McMaster previously called for an increase for his executive budget this year as well.

The superintendent also wants to give every public-school teacher and bus driver in the state a retention bonus, $2,500 for teachers, and $2,000 for bus drivers.

Weaver also requested more resource officers in schools backing a request McMaster has already suggested. She said, “Nothing matters if our students and educators are not safe.”