Education assistants, school secretaries and other classified staff working in Red Deer Public Schools will take a one per cent salary increase starting in September.
The board of trustees approved the pay increase for 583 staffers at its Wednesday meeting. The increase was to bring the staffers’ salaries in line with those working in comparable positions across the province.
Associate superintendent Brian Bieber said they want to ensure their employees are compensated fairly.
“We thought it was prudent to provide a modest increase so that we continue to provide people with fair compensation,” he said.
Board chairman Lawrence Lee, however, was the sole trustee who was opposed to the increase. Lee said he wanted to keep the money in the classroom given all the funding changes in the province.
“We cannot forecast what kind of money we’re getting next month let alone next budget year,” said Lee. “I just want to ensure the dollars and resources we have are in the classroom.”
Other trustees argued that support staff help the classrooms but Lee said it is all about perspective.