May 16, 2016
CLINTON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) released information Monday to correct misinformation about employee salary increases.
Since July 2014, the MDE has been exempt from the Mississippi State Personnel Board (MSPB) in order to reorganize the department and attract the skilled personnel needed to implement the state’s education reform initiatives. For example, part of the agency reorganization included hiring personnel with specialized skills to provide better services to districts and establishing an Office of Literacy and Office of Early Childhood Education. The department also hired staff to provide technology support, professional development for teachers and administrators and curriculum content support at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
MDE records show that 323 employees received a salary increase. However, of those employees, 227 salary increases were legislatively mandated. Those increases included the teacher pay raise in the state’s four special schools and for teachers who had obtained a higher level of education, adjustments for employees earning less than $30,000 annually, and a raise for school attendance officers.
The salary increases that were not legislatively mandated include 90 MDE staff who applied for higher-skilled and higher-paying jobs and were selected for those new positions and six MDE staff members who received increases based on assuming additional responsibilities.
“To attract and retain high-quality personnel to carry out the state’s education reform efforts, MDE salary levels should match the education, experience and skill level required,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education.
Attached is a breakdown of the salary increases by category since July 2014.
“Schools and districts are benefitting from the high-quality professional development, support and services we have been able to offer. Most importantly, student achievement is increasing, which is the ultimate goal of all of our efforts,” Wright said.
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519