Kearney R-I details staffing trends, substitute fill improvements and salary-schedule adjustments

The Kearney R-I School District’s human resources director reviewed staffing trends, benefits and salary schedule changes with the board during the regular meeting.

"We hit most all of these goals," the presenter said while summarizing last year’s HR objectives, including converting HR processes to digital and implementing a new staff evaluation program. The report emphasized gains in substitute coverage and targeted salary adjustments.

Key figures presented included a current district staff total of about 490.77 full-time-equivalent positions, a substitute teacher fill rate that improved to about 93.24%, and an updated teacher base salary of $45,000 for 2025–26. The presenter said those salary adjustments and corrections to experience placements required budgeted increases; one year’s salary and benefit increases were shown as a district impact of about $1.6 million.

The HR report noted distribution of teacher experience across the district and called attention to an aging cohort: roughly 17% of teaching staff (about 46 people) are in the 26+ years experience group and likely near retirement. The director recommended improving the exit survey to capture whether departures are due to compensation, relocation, retirement or a move out of the profession; the presentation stated many respondents indicated they were leaving the profession entirely.

Board members asked about the timing of merit-pay or salary-schedule decisions. The HR presenter said approval timing depends on budget certainty and has varied between April and June in the past. The presenter also linked benefits-cost containment efforts — pharmacy and musculoskeletal programs — with the district’s ability to sustain staff pay increases.

No formal board action was taken on the HR presentation; it was provided as an informational report.