Outrage in Madison City Schools after word started to spread among staff that administrators are getting a 9 percent raise.
A concerned non-administrative worker contacted WAAY 31 News. They said folks in their position are only getting a 2 percent raise.
The worker did not want to give their name out of fear they may be fired. They work a non-administrative job, and say none of this is fair.
"It gives me chills. Cuts the heart. We don't really care about you. I don't care if you get your work done. Does that make sense? The morale sort of took a big hit."
That worker said a 9 percent raise would change their life.
"Oh my gosh, that would be huge. I could make my rent, my rent and my groceries go up every year. Right now, I'm struggling, and for those who already make top dollar, I don't know that they're struggling but it's just not right because the cost of living has gone up for everybody, not just administrators."
WAAY 31 went straight to Madison City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols to find out why.
Nichols said the state gave a 2 percent pay increase across the district to every employee. He said they also gave $10,000 stipends to the principals and assistant principals this year.
"Or almost 10 percent increase to principals according to where they are on the salary schedule, then that causes a ripple effect because for us to take successful principals and have them be able to be promoted up into coordinator and assistant coordinator and director and chief officers, they have to be able to have a place to move and so we had fixed our salary schedule a couple of years ago when the state gave a bigger raise," Nichols explained.
WAAY 31 News reached out to other school districts in the area. The Madison County School System isn't giving those raises and neither is the Huntsville City School System.
The Madison City Schools worker we spoke with said everyone should get the same raise.
"I liked to see first and foremost a letter and official email and let us know the plan for pay raises. When are they coming? Are they coming? I don't know. They didn't say anything."
