MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Thousands of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employees are getting a pay raise.
School board members voted Tuesday night to increase the district’s minimum wage for many workers to $20 per hour. Employees who are considered ‘classified staff’ will receive their higher salary moving forward and also get retroactive payments dating back to July 1, 2024.
It was a unanimous vote by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board to raise the minimum wage.
“This is a group that have definitely felt overlooked, not seen, not heard and they do tremendous work every day in the school district,” said Lenora Shipp, a board member.
It’s a problem Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders haven’t addressed in nearly two decades.
“This is really justice work that’s going to make a huge difference in people’s lives and a huge step in the right direction,” said Monty Witherspoon, a board member.
The raise will affect almost 4,000 CMS classified staff members from bus drivers, to custodians, to teacher assistants and dozens more positions.
“Our district cannot run without bus drivers, maintenance workers, teachers’ assistants, cafeteria workers,” said Board Chair Stephanie Sneed. “It’s imperative that we get them closer to a living wage.”
It’s going to take $25 million to raise these employees’ salaries based on market rate and the experience they bring.
“We know that this is not everything,” said Board Member Melissa Easley. “We wish we could do more. You deserve more, but we’re working towards that.”
The $25 million is already included in the Mecklenburg County Commissioners’ budget for this fiscal year. This is part one of a three-phase approach, which is expected to take about three years to implement.
