Antigo board approves 2025–26 teacher compensation plan; starting pay for new teachers to rise to $47,400

The Unified School District of Antigo Board of Education approved the 2025–26 teacher compensation plan, an administration-drafted schedule that raises the district's starting teacher salary and creates a separate salary schedule for student support specialists.

During discussion, administrators described the plan as the product of a multi-step review and staff input. A presenter explained the proposed change in the starting teacher salary: "the starting salary on our current salary plan ... is 42,400. And the one we're proposing tonight is 47,400 for new teachers." The plan also introduces a distinct compensation schedule for clinical practitioners and student support services (speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, occupational and physical therapists), the administration said.

Board members asked how placements on steps and lanes would be handled for current employees and whether anyone's pay would decrease; administration responded that staff would be reviewed individually and that "no one will be getting a pay decrease. Everyone will get a pay increase." The presentation noted the district intends the revised schedule to improve competitiveness with neighboring districts and to address anticipated retirements.

Before the vote, a board member said for the record that they recused themselves from the discussion and vote. The presiding officer opened and then closed the electronic voting; the presiding officer announced the motion carried "100% unanimous with my recusal." The administration said next steps include applying the new framework to individual employee placements and addressing support-staff compensation in subsequent work.