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By Mike Barnhardt
Enterprise Record

Davie teachers are getting an increase in their pay supplements.
Members of the Davie Board of Education agreed last week to increase the supplements for certified employees from 5.5 percent to 8 percent of their salaries.
The schools are paying for the increase for the remainder of this fiscal year, and county commissioners approved $515,000 for the next fiscal year which begins on July 1. After that, the money is expected to come from increases in tax revenues. The county and schools also completed an interlocal agreement that will send some 41.3 percent of tax revenues to the school’s current expense fund.
School leaders say the increase is needed to attract and retain teachers.
Superintendent Jeff Wallace told school board members that 90 percent of teachers who left the Davie system last year did so to make more money at another system. This last increase, he said, makes Davie competitive with all surrounding counties other than Forsyth.
“Moving to eight percent will separate us from our neighbors,” Wallace said.
Education board vice chair, Wendy Horne, said teachers – especially young teachers – look at pay before taking their first job. “And the number of students going into teaching is way down.”
She said the board has been discussing the issue for years, and she and Wallace thanked the county commissioners for understanding the situation. It had been 15 years since a supplement has been increased.
School board member David Carroll said the board is not just “throwing money” at an issue. “This only makes us competitive.”
“I’m very proud. That relationship with county commissioners is critical,” Wallace said.
County Manager David Bone told county commissioners prior to their vote: “Increasing the amount of teacher supplements could certainly help attract and retain teachers for Davie County Schools.”