Due to the uproar from veteran teachers, the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools Board of Education has a made a change to Project Advance, the district’s new payment method.

All current teachers of the CHCCS will now be automatically grandfathered into the program. Previously, teachers had the option of opting out of the program and remaining in the existing pay scale.

Assistant Superintendent Todd LoFrese said they wanted all employees to be behind the program.

“We don’t want any of our employees feeling badly about a system that’s primary purpose is to support them,” said LoFrese.

Project Advance will set every new teacher’s supplemental pay at 16 percent, but give them the opportunity to earn more based on their performance, student outcomes and for attending additional training sessions.

Teachers already employed with the district will still earn supplements based on years of experience, up to 25 percent. All CHCCS teachers will be able to earn additional money from Project Advance incentives.

The change will cost the district between $100,000 and $250,000 depending on how long veteran teachers continue to work.

Board member Pat Heinrich said the cost would be worth it.

“The cost here is an investment in our teachers and if we believe in Project Advance this investment will result in better teachers,” said Heinrich.

In addition, CHCCS has committed to raising starting teacher salaries this year to attract more teachers to the district.

Superintendent Tom Forcella focus for this project has been on the teachers.

“We really need to collaborate and work together to come to a resolution just because we want people going into this with a real positive outlook,” said Forcella.

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