Nashville teachers and school support staff get a pay bump in Metro budget as inflation rises

provided by brittany anderson

All Metro Nashville Public Schools employees will receive at least a 4% cost-of-living adjustment in the upcoming fiscal year. 

The Metro Council approved the pay boost as part of its latest city budget that passed this week. 

A gradual step increase is also included for employees, excluding individuals who’ve maxed out their pay level, been employed for less than six months or who aren’t on a pay scale.

Hillsboro High School math teacher Brittany Anderson has worked with MNPS for four years. When she first started, people told her that she shouldn’t expect the city to make good on its promises of yearly increases, so she’s grateful for three consistent years of pay bumps.

That’s especially true after purchasing a new home, and amid rising U.S. inflation, which is at its highest point in 40 years. 

“But I do still think that a lot of teachers and a lot of support staff especially, are struggling to make ends meet,” said Anderson. “And a lot of them are quitting their jobs to go do something else.”

Last year, school support staff petitioned for better working conditions. Paraprofessionals, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other school employees expressed frustration over having to routinely ask for adequate raises. 

This time around the council created an $18 per hour minimum wage and a one-time bonus. That will create a domino increase for all employee pay.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated school support staff did not receive a pay increase last year. That was incorrect. Support staff received a step increase and cost-of-living adjustment. The story has been updated.