Virginia Beach Public Schools budget staff recommended increasing teacher salaries between 3 and 3.5% to try to catch up with neighboring cities.
“Currently, Virginia Beach City public schools rank six out of seven in starting salaries, just ahead of Newport News public schools by a mere five dollars,” budget development coordinator Cassandra Armstrong told the Virginia Beach school board this week.
She said the city is losing teaching candidates to other districts due to salary and the city’s affordability.
Currently, teachers in Virginia Beach with a Bachelor’s degree start making just over $53,000 a year.
With the increase, Virginia Beach's starting rate would be just over $54,000 a year, still the lowest among Chesapeake, Hampton, and Norfolk.
Staff said that other cities’ starting salaries for the next school year weren’t finalized when they were presented to the school board.
The school board will decide on the raise proposal at a meeting on June 10, which must then be approved by the Virginia Beach City Council.
Virginia Beach Public Schools is a member of the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, which holds WHRO’s broadcast license.
