BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education voted in a special meeting May 24 to give pay raises to employees. Certified personnel will get a 5 percent increase and classified personnel will receive a $2 per hour raise.

“The legislature gave us extra SEEK money to pay for raises,” School Superintendent Larry James said. “Our extra SEEK money amounted to $160,000. If we just used the $160,000, that would have been about one-half a percent raise for everyone.

“The reason this raise is possible is the diligent work of Ernest Hale, our finance officer,” added James.

The superintendent said he had heard people saying the state gave the money, so the district should do an 8 percent raise.

“That was the state police,” explained James. “The state funded that; they didn’t fund us.”

Board Member Mickey McCoy said the raise was very well deserved.

“This raise may keep teachers from leaving,” McCoy said.

“Maybe this money will keep our teaching staff strong.”

The raises will increase the school district’s cost by about $900,000 a year.

“It shows them that we appreciate them,” BOE chairperson Kathleen Price said.