MCS Issues Raises Amid Budget Woes

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In the midst of negotiations between the city of Memphis and Memphis City Schools to rectify a $50 million lawsuit, the schools give all its employees a raise.

The move was a slap in the face to some on the Memphis City Council. While some of the city council may be offended by the raises, the Board of Education says they were warranted.

Teachers in Memphis City Schools will see a 2 percent bump in their salaries. It's mandated by the district's contract with the Memphis Education Association. But by choice, the Board of Education extended the retro active cost of living increase to all MCS employees.

"We can't continue to do this," says City Councilman Kemp Conrad. "To give pay raises in the midst of the worst recession since the great depression."

Conrad says he's particularly offended because the Board of Education shot down an offer to settle the funding dispute.

The court ordered the city pay the schools $50 million. The city offered $38 million and asked the schools to cut $12 million from their budget. Conrad says $12 million equals the amount of pay raises just handed out.

"They rejected that so they could give the teachers a retroactive raise of 2 percent," says Conrad. "That is unconscionable."

But School Board President Martavius Jones says the pay raises have nothing to do with the lawsuit.

"Two courts have ruled that the amount the city council is obligated to pay for memphis city schools is 50, not 38," says Jones.

And Jones says it was important that not just teachers receive the raise as everyone will be asked to make big changes as the school system changes its way of doing business.

"A 2 percent increase for everyone who works for Memphis City Schools is really just a small investment for some of the changes and reform they're going to have to adapt to as employees of Memphis City Schools," says Jones.

Conrad says its time for public bodies to follow the lead of the private sector.

"If you're fortunate enough to have a job now, you're making less than you were, furloughs, pay cuts, lay-offs," says Conrad.

Although Conrad voted against it, the city council approved a pay raise from city employees last year.