08/24/04 - Lexington-Herald

SCHOOL BOARD GIVES APPROVAL TO MAKE FAYETTE MORE COMPETITIVE

By Cassondra Kirby And Lisa Deffendall

A school board move last night to make Fayette County more attractive to new teachers raised starting salaries to $30,000 a year.

The adopted $30,000 salary for new teachers with no experience and a bachelor's degree equates to a $362 annual increase on top a 1.5 percent raise for all teachers approved in June.

For first-year teachers such as Jennifer Hamaker, however, the roughly $14 a paycheck helps.

Hamaker, who attended Fayette County Schools, said she really wanted the opportunity to come back and teach in her hometown -- no matter how low the pay. "I would stay, regardless, because I am in it for the love of the game, not for money," she said.