STURGIS – Sturgis Public Schools faculty and staff will be getting a raise for the 2021-2022 school year.

During Monday's Board of Education Study Session, Superintendent Dr. Art Ebert shared that the proposed increase for all work units would be 1.25 percent, with the possibility of the increase being 3 percent, based on enrollment. Ebert says if the Fall Count is at a certain mark, then the wage increase would be 3 percent and retroactive to the beginning of the school year.

The exception to the 1.25 percent wage increase would be the food service employees. That's because they have the lowest starting wage of all Sturgis Public Schools employee groups. Their raises would be a dollar amount, based on how long they have worked for the schools, as Business Manager Ray Sterling shares that for people who have worked in food service would receive a $1 an hour raise. 2 to 4 year employees would get a 90 cents an hour raise; 5 to 7 years employees would get 80 cents per hour; while 8 to 10 years would get 70 cents per hour; 11 to 13 years a 60 cent per hour raise and any with 14 or more years would get a 50 cent per hour raise.

The Board of Education will be asked to vote on the proposed wage increases during their June 21 meeting.