Richmond Public Schools wants to expand its study of how employees are being compensated to also look at how the division is classifying those employees. 

The goal, Superintendent Jason Kamras told the School Board Nov. 11, is “to address any existing inequities in our pay system.” 

While RPS recently did a decompression analysis — an effort to bring the salaries of longer-term employees in line with those of newer employees who have benefited from gradual starting pay increases — division spokesperson Alyssa Schwenk said it hasn’t done a compensation and classification study since 2017. 

“As a division, our salaries have to be competitive in order to attract top talent,” said RPS Chief Talent Officer Maggie Clemmons in an email. “The economy is on everyone’s mind as the cost of living in the Greater Richmond area has increased. Ensuring that we’re staying in line with the city, the state, and other divisions helps us build toward our goal of becoming one of the best districts in the country.”

RPS signed a contract this September with Evergreen Services to conduct a compensation study, at a cost of $54,500. 

As work began, however, Clemmons said the administration determined it would be better to conduct a study of employee classification at the same time to “ensur[e] we’re paying our team what they are worth.” 

The classification study would cost an extra $68,000, with an overall price tag of $122,500 for Evergreen to carry out both. Because that contract amount would exceed $100,000, the School Board will have to approve the expansion.

Employee classifications group staff members based on similarities in responsibilities and job requirements. Salary ranges are then set for each classification so that all similarly classified workers make comparable amounts.

Clemmons said that study “is specifically about capturing the complexity of certain jobs and making sure that's reflected in compensation.” 

“Teaching, management, and leadership are inherently complex tasks that need to be factored in as well,” she said. “For folks who have been in their roles for a few years, their job descriptions also likely don't capture everything that they've taken on. We want to make sure that is documented and folks are compensated for it as well.” 

Evergreen Solutions is a national consulting firm that specializes in public sector work. It has done compensation and classification studies for numerous Virginia school districts, including Norfolk schools, whose contract RPS is copying through a process known as cooperative contract procurement.