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The DeKalb County Board of Education approved new job classifications and an aligned salary structure for the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) at its monthly board policy meeting April 18.

The move is part of Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson’s ongoing reorganization of positions in the district. Under the reorganization more than 380 job titles were consolidated into 17 job classifications, each with an aligned salary structure that is uniform across all departments and comparable with similar school districts.

Earlier in the year the district hired Management Advisory Group Inc. (MAG) to perform a personnel audit of every position within the district. MAG presented its findings to the board in January and called for a unified salary schedule for all employees, as well as pay adjustments for certain positions. Additionally, the management firm recommended a complete restructuring of central office departments.

DeKalb School DIstrict spokesman Walter Woods said the reorganization is, in part, a response to MAGs findings but the district will not implement all of its suggestions. Woods said although 380 job titles were being condensed into 17, it didn’t mean those not included in the 17 positions would lose their jobs.

“Many employees will be affected but not necessarily leaving the district,” Woods said.

All reclassifications were based on a 239-day schedule in an effort to show an internal relationship among positions, a press release said. The salary for the full range of the classifications will only be earned if the employee works a full calendar year of 239 days. Therefore, if the employee’s work calendar is fewer than 239 days, the salary for the position will be based on the actual number of days worked.

The new job classifications and salary structure are expected to save the school district more than $300,000 and make it more efficient.

This district-wide reclassification is the first such effort for the DeKalb County School District in more than 10 years.