Fayette County teachers and other public school employees are getting a raise. They asked the school board for a five percent raise but were given a minimum three percent increase at Monday’s board meeting. Laura Hartke is a school employee and an organizer with the teachers’ union Fayette County 120 United AFT. She said the blame for fewer dollars does not fall on the school board.
“We understand that the problem came with the legislature. We still showed up and have worked very hard through the last few years to do everything that was asked of us. We feel we’re worthy of that five percent. The school board feels it can only afford the three percent right now and we’re grateful for that,” Hartke said.
She said the union will continue to fight for improved working conditions and is encouraging people to vote in the interest of public education.
“They chose not to give it to us. It’s not even like they chose, like they had to cut something in order to give it to us. They decided to leave that money sit there as opposed to give teachers a raise and give themselves a raise at the same time.”
Hartke said many teachers pay for classroom school supplies out of their own pocket. She said inflation is going to put a damper on what they can do for their students when they return in the fall.
