Oak Ridge teachers ask board for 7% raise, step increases, higher insurance contributions and sick-day payout

Peter Blair, president of the Oak Ridge Education Association, urged the Oak Ridge Board of Education to adopt a multi-part salary and benefits proposal intended to help the district recruit and retain staff.

Blair told the board the association’s proposal asked for “four things: a 7% increase for all employees and step increases for eligible employees. We'd like to increase our contribution of our insurance to 90% for employees and 80% for families. We'd like to start a new thing, which is an unused sick day incentive, and we'd also like to do a parental leave for teacher assistance.” Blair said the requested 7% increase mirrored a neighboring district’s recent raise and that pay parity influenced teachers’ choices when they were recruited.

Blair and Lisa Weathers, introduced as OREA’s secretary at the meeting, said the sick-day proposal would provide a modest retirement payment for unused sick days; Blair cited examples from neighboring counties where such payments ranged from about $60 to $150 per unused sick day in other jurisdictions. Blair also asked the board to expand the district’s step scale (currently 20 steps) to 25 or 30 steps to increase longevity pay progression.

Board members thanked Blair and said the board would address compensation in upcoming meetings. The superintendent and board chair noted a scheduled retreat and a series of budget meetings where compensation and benefits would be discussed; no action was taken at the meeting on the OREA proposal.