Thirty Teachers Territory-Wide Have Experienced Delays In Receiving Their Salary Increases, D.O.E. Says

ST. CROIX — While most teachers have received their promised salary increases, the Department of Education has confirmed to The Consortium following an inquiry that 30 educators had yet to see any increase reflected on their paychecks because of “improper documentation or delays in submission of required paperwork,” wrote Nicole Jacob, D.O.E.’s Human Resources director, in an email to this publication on Tuesday.

“As these individuals submit the proper documents, their increases are being processed on a case-by-case basis,” Ms. Jacobs wrote.

The Mapp administration said in May that salary increases relative to D.O.E., Human Services and the Bureau of Corrections would be forthcoming on June 9 and 23. Government House said employees would see an annual average pay increase of $4875, and that when adding fringe benefits, that number goes higher.

Affected teachers had reached out to The Consortium concerned that they’d somehow fallen through the cracks. Ms. Jacobs said processing is being completed for St. Croix Educational Complex and St. Croix Central High Schools and all standard step increases would be paid by approximately July 21, 2016.

Ms. Jacobs added that salary increases are being given to “those that qualify as eligible with a satisfactory or better rating and proper certification,” suggesting that if teachers did not meet a certain criteria, their increases would be withheld.

The H.R. director also encouraged teachers who have not seen their increases and have no “special circumstances” to contact her at 340-774-0100 ext. 8078, or via email at [email protected].