UPDATE: Smyrna School District addresses teacher pay raises

UPDATE: The Smyrna School District issued a statement on Thursday afternoon regarding educators frustrations over a lack of pay raises.

The district stated that over the past four years, employees have received annual increases in the amounts as follows:

• 2021-2022: 3 percent increase on a pay scale
• 2022-2023: 2 percent increase on a pay scale
• 2023-2024: 2.5 percent increase on a pay scale
• 2024-2025: $250 bonus off a pay scale

Additionally, the district says that step increases for years of experience were built into the pay scale in 2021. These longevity bonuses were reportedly increased in 2024. The pay schedule combines an educator’s years of experience with their education level to determine their salary.

“While local starting pay at the Bachelor’s level [with] zero years’ experience is lower than some neighboring districts, the local salary schedule exceeds neighboring districts in many other cells,” the district wrote, adding, “The local paraprofessional salary schedule is one of the highest compared to neighboring districts.”

Teacher salaries in Delaware are a combination of state and local salaries. The district highlighted in their statement that educators still receive increases on the state portion of their incomes. Most recently, the General Assembly approved a plan to give teachers a 7.3 percent raise on the state salary share, while providing a two percent pay bump to all other professionals.

District officials cited a “lack of additional sustained revenue via property tax increases” as a partial reason for the minimal increases, in addition to the failed referendums that took place in March of this year and last.

“We remain committed to attracting and retaining high-quality educators and staff,” the district said. “We have continued to have open and honest dialogue with the SEA leadership to keep them apprised of our financial situation in the hopes of finding common ground. Our district will continue working with employees, the community, and state partners to provide competitive pay while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Negotiations continue for the 2025-26 school year with an opportunity to reopen again for next year.”

SMYRNA, Del. – Educators in the Smyrna School District are growing increasingly frustrated as they still have yet to receive a pay raise.

At a September 10 school board meeting, more than 50 members of the Smyrna Educators Association (SEA) confronted the board, signaling growing frustration over stagnant wages as the new school year begins.

A few years ago, Smyrna struck a deal with the SEA to institute modest raises over two years — but only if voters approved a funding referendum. That referendum has twice fallen flat: just 42.1 % support in 2024 and 40.5 % in the most recent vote.

At the board meeting, SEA President Chuck Welsh called on the board to re-open negotiations.

SEA’s political action chair, John McCutchan, described morale as “really low,” and “upset that the union was offered 0 percent” and “They’re doing their jobs.” He also emphasized that capital improvement funds approved by voters cannot legally be used for salaries — meaning past referendum funding successes do not translate into pay increases.

Instead of an annual raise, the district awarded a one-time $250 bonus from reserve funds.

As a form of protest, some teachers are wearing black on Fridays and holding signs reading “0 %” during school board meetings, pressing for meaningful negotiations.

Smyrna educators plan to continue to try to negotiate with the school board and still plans to try to reach out for some sort of agreement in the near future. Union members warn that if the extra effort is not matched with pay, retention and morale may worsen, risking teacher departures.

In broader context, districts statewide are grappling with failed referendums and funding constraints. Smyrna’s struggle mirrors similar challenges in neighboring districts: failed referendums have forced some districts to plan program cuts, layoffs, or increased class sizes.

For now, the referendum failures loom large: absent voter approval for added revenues, districts like Smyrna may have little flexibility to increase salaries without sacrificing elsewhere.

At this time, Smyrna School District has yet to respond or release a statement to WMDT.