According to a report by the Crossville Chronicle, 59 Cumberland County teachers with Ed.S. or doctorate degrees have had their pay frozen as part of a multi-year effort by the Cumberland County School District to create a balanced, unified pay scale for all certified staff.

The freeze, affecting 21 teachers at the Central office, 26 in elementary schools, and 12 in high schools, ensures that salaries remain unchanged without reductions, as outlined in letters sent to the affected teachers. The district aims to address inconsistencies in the current pay scale, where some steps yield significant raises while others are minimal, with the process expected to take two to three years depending on funding and state salary minimums.

Chief Operating Officer Kim Bray and curriculum supervisors personally delivered the letters and addressed teachers’ concerns, with 58 of the 59 teachers notified by August 14. While teachers expressed dissatisfaction, many acknowledged the long-term benefits of the initiative, which includes extending the pay scale to 30 years of service to encourage retention.

The decision to freeze pay and transition to a new scale was proposed by 2nd District board member Scott VanWinkle during the April 2025 budget session, with projections indicating a six-year timeline to fully balance the scale.

The Cumberland County Board of Education, which voted for this transition in a special meeting in April, continues to work toward minimizing pay gaps to ensure consistent raise amounts, with their next meeting scheduled for August 21 at the Central Services building in Crossville.