By JIM BUTLER

A first-year, nine-months teacher with no advanced degree will be paid $44,522 in the Rapides system in 2024-25.

That is presuming the School Board at a special meeting Tuesday adopts the salary schedule presented by CFO Liz Dolmite.

Over the 30 steps of the teacher plan that pay grows to $58,063. Thirty steps is not necessarily 30 years.

And pay changes with advanced degrees, and stipends for such as teaching in a high-demand field or being judged highly effective.

Additionally, all employees share annually in any excess sales tax income distribution. In May all degree-holding employees got $7,200, non-degree half that. The total distributed was about $5 million.

Teachers moving from classroom to administrative posts enter a different salary category.

Assistant principals (10-month) at base Step 1 are paid $55,168, with 30 steps that lead to $73,856.

Principals’ pay is predicated on size of student enrollment, ranging from $78,363 for 300 or fewer elementary students to $83,262 floor for junior high to $91,633 start point for largest-school principals.

These are 12-month, 20 steps posts and levels noted are without advanced degree additions, etc.

As the pay pyramid shrinks closer to the top base salaries grow, no different than any other enterprise.

At the peak is the superintendent’s base, $201,533.10, a 10-step plan that starts about $75,000 above the next highest level on the pyramid.

The pay schedule encompasses every position within the system.