After spending the past two years working to address antiquated salary schedules, the Cullman County Board of Education has increased the maintenance department payscale in an effort to make the range more competitive after losing a handful of experienced technicians to private businesses.

On the high end, the new schedule could see longtime employees in higher-level positions making as much as $9,000 more annually toward the end of their tenure. Lower-level employees will see smaller raises of up to $3,000 on the longterm.

The school board has already made changes to the technology, central office and local school employee salary schedules — with the maintenance and transportation department the latest to go under the microscope.

With the general fund budget stable and new sources of revenue like the countywide half-cent sales tax and Section 16 land funds in the offing, the board has refocused on the several departmental payscales that have remained unchanged for several years.

Under the new salary schedule, Class 1 and Class 2 employees will start at $36,036 and $28,284 respectively, topping out after 27+ years at $47,018 and $36, 905. The new salary schedule increases the back end of the schedule by approximately $3,000 for Class 2 and $7,000 for Class 1 employees.

A foreman and assistant foreman will start at $38,160 and $42,408 respectively, topping out at $49,789 and $55,331 respectively after 27+ years. The back end of both schedules were increased by approximately $7,000 total with the new changes.

County schools maintenance director Ron Whaley said the update has been a long time coming, and he’s proud to see it finally approved for his staff and employees.

“It’s definitely good for morale, but really it just makes things more fair and equitable,” he said. “That’s all we were asking for. I’ve lost four employees recently, with two going to other jobs.”

Whaley noted the level of training needed to handle the various issues that arise at the system’s varied campuses makes experience a very valuable commodity in his department. The department is tasked with upkeep of 29 schools scattered across the county.

School board member Randy Hasenbein said he believes the salary schedule update was well-deserved.

“We value all our employees, and obviously want to do what we can to keep our good folks with us,” he said.

The updated salary schedule passed with a 6-1 vote at the board’s September meeting, with board president Chris Carter casting the sole vote against the measure. In a follow-up interview, he declined to comment on why he cast a ‘no’ vote, but noted he does appreciate the work done by the department.

* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 134.