Wake school board approves raises, bonuses for employees as state budget lingers in limbo

Wake school bus driver shortage 'worse' this year, transportation leader says

Non-certified staff, such as bus drivers and support staff, will receive a one-time $500 locally funded bonus to be paid in December's payroll. They will also receive a 3% locally funded salary increase beginning in January 2020 that will be retroactive to July 2019.

Certified staff, such as teachers, will receive a total 1% increase to their supplemental pay beginning in January 2020 that will be retroactive to July 2019.

Money to pay for the increases came from several areas, including carryover funding from last year that was higher than expected and additional money due to fewer students going to charter schools than projected.

Wake school leaders estimated charter schools would enroll 15,276 Wake County students this school year, but last month's numbers show they enrolled 14,084 students – a nearly 1,200 difference, according to Terri Kimzey, Wake schools' senior budget director.

Meanwhile, Wake schools' enrollment has grown more than projected. Initial numbers, which have not been finalized by the state, show the district has enrolled 1,436 additional students this year, bringing the total enrollment to 161,907, nearly 900 more students than they estimated.

Wake Schools planned for 1,900 new students this year. Instead, it was 42