A Lexington District 2 official says a Chronicle news article about teacher salaries last week was inaccurate.

$2,559,996 for salaries and fringe benefits is not just for teachers but all employees, said District 2 Public Information Officer Dawn Kujawa.

The statement, “district taxpayers will have to pick up $679,927.07,” implied a tax increase is needed to pay for the raises, and that is not accurate, she said. The raises will be funded using state aid to classrooms, which is money already available for any general fund expense.

“The General Assembly fully funded teacher raises at the state salary schedule, but some districts, including ours, choose to pay teachers at a higher rate,” she said.

“That is not unusual, given the teacher shortage,” she said. “We are choosing to add to the teaching ranks to reduce class sizes.”