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Board keeps benefits package, raises long‑term substitute daily pay and approves holiday pay change
Summary
The Board approved the insurance committee's benefits recommendation for the coming year and approved increasing long‑term substitute teachers’ daily pay to $225 with additional holiday payments; staff warned reserve drawdown could require future benefit changes.
The Dodge City USD 443 Board of Education approved an insurance committee recommendation that maintains the district’s existing benefits package for the next school year and also approved a personnel pay change increasing long‑term substitute teachers’ daily rate to $225 with added holiday pay.
Human Resources staff said the district’s benefits package — described as having a high standard of medical, dental and vision coverage plus dependent buy‑downs and an annual $240 credit for supplemental American Fidelity products — can be sustained for the coming year, but the committee flagged reserve levels and a near‑term reserve reduction of about $1 million if no changes occur. The staff presentation said the committee reviewed numbers and concluded the current package is sustainable this year but may require reductions in future years if reserves fall further.
On the personnel motion, staff said the district is supporting long‑term substitutes through an educator support pathway and that 19 of the 69 enrolled long‑term subs had completed degree programs while another 29 were actively enrolled. The board approved raising the long‑term substitute daily base to $225 and adding holiday pay for those teachers of record; staff framed the change as preserving an incentive to pursue full certification and narrowing the pay gap with certified teachers.
Board members moved and seconded the motions. The benefits package and the long‑term substitute pay and holiday‑pay change were each approved by voice vote recorded as 6‑0. Staff said they will continue to monitor benefit reserves and report back if future adjustments are needed.
