Broken Arrow board approves $1 hourly increase for support classroom staff; cost $410,000

The Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education approved a $1-per-hour increase to the district's support classroom salary scale, a step administrators said will raise pay for classroom instructional staff, behavior coaches and other support personnel. The board voted unanimously to adopt the change.

The raise will apply to staff who work in support classrooms, and district staff presented the change as a staffing priority. "I'm here tonight asking your approval for our support classroom salary scale to 'increase that by $1," said Mr. Stecker, a district staff member who presented the item, adding: "The total cost for this would be $410,000."

Board members said the raise had been a high priority. "I think this has probably been number one on our priority board for quite some time," said Mr. Perry, a member of the board, who praised finance staff for finding the funds and described support classroom staff as "warriors in that classroom day in and day out."

The motion to approve was made and seconded and passed on a roll-call vote: Dr. Williams, Mrs. Taylor, Dr. Brandy Roulette, Mr. John Cockrell and Mr. Allen voted yes. The board recorded no abstentions.

Discussion vs. decision: the board's remarks framed the raise as a long-standing priority; the motion approved the formal pay-scale change and its estimated budget impact. The board did not specify how the district will phase the increase or whether the cost will be covered from existing reserves or a designated fund in public comments during the item.

The board moved on after the vote to other agenda items; staff will implement the pay-scale change according to district payroll timelines.