GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1672

Short Title:  Principal Salary Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Arnold; Sexton, Shubert, Watson, and Yongue.

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Referred to:  Appropriations

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June 1, 1998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Reserve for Compensation the sum of eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to implement the salary increases for school-based administrators set out in this section.
(b)	The salary ranges for school-based administrators shall apply only to principals and assistant principals.  The salary ranges for the 1998-99 fiscal year, commencing July 1, 1998, are as follows:
Classification	Range
Assistant Principal	2,873 - 4,880
Principal I	3,068 - 4,978
Principal II	3,238 - 5,282
Principal III	3,421 - 5,606
Principal IV	3,548 - 5,833
Principal V	3,680 - 6,068
Principal VI	3,892 - 6,440
Principal VII	4,112 - 6,700
Principal VIII	4,189 - 6,834

(c)	The appropriate classification for placement of principals and assistant principals on the salary range, except for principals in alternative schools, shall be determined in accordance with the following schedule:
Number of Teachers
Classification	Supervised
Assistant Principal
Principal I	Less than 11 Teachers
Principal II	11-21 Teachers
Principal III	22-32 Teachers
Principal IV	33-43 Teachers
Principal V	44-54 Teachers
Principal VI	55-65 Teachers
Principal VII	66-100 Teachers
Principal VIII	More than 100 Teachers
The number of teachers supervised includes teachers and assistant principals paid from State funds only; it does not include teachers or assistant principals paid from non-State funds or the principal or teacher assistants.
The beginning classification for principals in alternative schools shall be the Principal III level.  Principals in alternative schools who supervise 33 or more teachers shall be classified according to the number of teachers supervised. 
(d)	For the 1998-99 fiscal year, a principal or assistant principal may be awarded a salary increase of up to one percent (1%) if
(1)	The employee's school meets or exceeds the projected levels of improvement in student performance for the 1998-99 fiscal year, in accordance with the ABC's of Public Education Program; or
(2)	The local board of education finds that the employee's school has met or exceeded the goals of the local plan for maintaining a safe and orderly school.
The principal or assistant principal may be awarded a salary increase of up to two percent (2%) if the conditions set out in both subdivisions (1) and (2) are satisfied.  The principal or assistant principal shall receive a lump sum payment for the 1998-99 fiscal year service if the conditions set out in subdivision (1) or (2) or both are satisfied.   The lump sum shall be paid as determined by guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education.  Placement on the salary range in the following year shall be based upon these increases.
(e)	Principals and assistant principals with certification based on academic preparation at the six-year degree level shall be paid a salary supplement of one hundred twenty-six dollars ($126.00) per month and at the doctoral degree level shall be paid a salary supplement of two hundred fifty-three dollars ($253.00) per month.
(f)	There shall be no State requirement that superintendents in each local school unit shall receive in State-paid salary at least one percent (1%) more than the highest paid principal receives in State salary in that school unit:  Provided, however, the additional State-paid salary a superintendent who was employed by a local school administrative unit for the 1992-93 fiscal year received because of that requirement shall not be reduced because of this subsection for subsequent fiscal years that the superintendent is employed by that local school administrative unit so long as the superintendent is entitled to at least that amount of additional State-paid salary under the rules in effect for the 1992-93 fiscal year.
(g)	Longevity pay for principals and assistant principals shall be as provided for State employees.
(h)(1)	If a principal is reassigned to a higher job classification because the principal is transferred to a school within a local school administrative unit with a larger number of State-allotted teachers, the principal shall be placed on the salary range as if the principal had served the principal's entire career as a principal at the higher job classification.
(2)	If a principal is reassigned to a lower job classification because the principal is transferred to a school within a local school administrative unit with a smaller number of State-allotted teachers, the principal shall be placed on the salary range as if the principal had served the principal's entire career as a principal at the lower job classification.
This subdivision applies to all transfers on or after the ratification date of this act, except transfers in school systems that have been created, or will be created, by merging two or more school systems.  Transfers in these merged systems are exempt from the provisions of this subdivision for one calendar year following the date of the merger.
(i)	The State Board may authorize local boards of education to pay persons for one year at the entry-level step of the assistant principal's salary range if they (i) are serving as assistant principals, (ii) have completed one year of a masters in school administration program, and (iii) are not certified as principals.
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1998.