Committee advances 2025–26 operating budget, salary reclassifications and band-uniform funding

The Finance, Insurance and Section 16 Lands Committee recommended adoption of the district’s original operating budgets for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved a package of reclassifications, salary-scale adjustments and program additions.

The budget motion forwarded to the full board included reclassifying the purchasing agent to a higher administrative salary scale (to support expanded project-management duties), reclassifying the executive secretary to executive assistant to the superintendent, reclassifying several human-resources and maintenance positions to clarified salary scales, adding a buyer position to the purchasing department, and increasing salary schedules for most full-time support employees by $3,000 per year (with listed exclusions).

Superintendent’s staff and finance personnel described reasons for the proposals: the purchasing agent has taken on additional project-management responsibilities tied to multiple new school construction projects; the buyer position is intended to take on repetitive purchasing tasks while reporting to the purchasing agent; and scale adjustments for specific trades (licensed plumber, leaderman) reflect recruitment needs. The superintendent’s office also noted band-uniform replacement funding for three high schools as part of the budget packet; materials included sample uniform designs.

Board members discussed workload concerns and the possibility that expanded duties could overburden existing staff; several members urged that the districts monitor the new responsibilities and consider additional support if needed. One member said she would recuse herself from a future full-board vote because of a family connection disclosed in the committee meeting.

Committee members praised finance staff for preparing the budget; the committee moved the budget resolution and associated reclassifications and adjustments forward to the full board for final adoption.