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DeKalb school board debates proposed 5% raise, sick‑leave payout and multiyear contracts for unaffiliated staff
Summary
Board members and district staff discussed a proposed unaffiliated benefits package that would set a 5% annual increase, add a sick‑leave payout on retirement, change retirement notice requirements, and remove a previously proposed two‑year contract option; the board agreed to continue conversations and return with a refined proposal.
DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 board members and administrators spent extended time debating proposed changes to benefits for unaffiliated employees, including a recommendation for a 5% across‑the‑board annual increase, a new payout for unused sick days at $50 per day (up to 100 days), and a new deadline for multi‑year retirement notice.
District staff said the board packet had been updated after legal review and that a previously proposed two‑year contract option was removed because language in school code could affect tenure for administrators. "The original document that was posted to the board docs was replaced with this one because there's been a change after legal review," said Ms. Beatrice House, a district staff presenter. "We are removing that. So the only proposed changes are those that you see that are highlighted in yellow." (paraphrased from meeting.)
Why it matters: the proposal touches pay, retirement procedures and potential tenure implications for principals and other administrative staff. Board members raised concerns about equity and incentives, and several asked for a performance‑based or tiered approach rather than a flat 5% for all unaffiliated employees.
Board debate and context
Board member Amanda Harness said she wants the district to reward high performers and asked whether raises could be merit‑based. "I don't want anyone claiming they're not coming in and doing a percent every day," Harness said in the meeting when arguing for incentive pay and clearer performance metrics. Several board members and staff responded that the district lacks a consistent, district‑wide performance rubric that would support a merit‑based pay scale now.
District staff explained components of the proposal: - Annual increase: recommendation to set a 5% increase across unaffiliated staff instead of tying it explicitly to CPI. Staff said this is to remain competitive with neighboring districts and to respond to recruitment losses. - Retirement notice and post‑retirement increases: the proposal would require retirement notices to be for a full school year submitted by June 1 and allow up to four years on a retirement track, with eligibility for a 6% increase each year on that track. - Sick‑leave payout: a new proposal would allow unaffiliated staff to cash in up to 100 unused sick days at $50 per day upon retirement, a benefit currently available to members of the DCTA bargaining unit but not to unaffiliated staff.
Staff and some board members argued the changes are partly intended to retain and recruit leaders. Board members pressed for equity, clearer evaluation processes and guardrails for tenure issues.
Next steps
The board reached consensus to continue the conversation and asked staff to return with a refined proposal that would explore performance‑based options and further detail on implementation, evaluation methods and legal implications. Staff said they would convene principals and cabinet members for further input and aim to bring a revised package back at a future meeting.
Ending
No final policy was adopted at the meeting; the board directed staff to gather additional details on evaluation processes, legal effects on tenure, and options for tying raises to performance. The item will return for further board consideration.
