FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - Fairfax County schools Superintendent Karen Garza has a history of cutting costs in order to give teachers raises, setting the stage for her budget priorities this year.
Garza has proposed $41 million in raises for classroom teachers and staff. But the budget for 2015 also includes $96 million in cuts that would eliminate 731 staff positions.
The Washington Post (https://wapo.st/1bzV7qc ) reports this is a tactic Garza used before as superintendent in Lubbock, Texas and as second-in-command of Houston’s schools.
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Garza says teachers drive student achievement and raises are crucial because Fairfax salaries lags behind neighbors. The average teacher salary in Fairfax is $64,813, while the District of Columbia pays $77,512, Montgomery County pays $74,855 and Arlington pays $72,997.
Garza says she wants Fairfax to lead in pay within five years.
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Information from: The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com
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