School board approves new administration salary ranges, effective July 1

The Board of Education of the School District of Superior on July 14 approved an updated salary schedule for district administrators that takes effect July 1, 2025. The board voted to replace the prior step-based schedule with salary ranges intended to bring administrator pay closer to regional comparators and to reduce turnover. Board members and staff said the shift responds to recent recruitment challenges and pay disparities with neighboring districts. District Administrator Amy Starzaky read background material and staff explained the update follows a comparison to districts in the Big Rivers Conference; administrators said they had lost two principals last year to neighboring districts that offered higher pay. The board agreed to a package the district estimates will raise annual administrative payroll by roughly $171,000 as an initial, one-time adjustment; after the change, annual increases for administrators will be limited to any CPI (cost-of-living) adjustments the board approves. Staff told the board there are no automatic step increases under the new ranges. Public commenter Kyle Smith, who identified himself during the public comment period, said he did not want to “devalue any of our admin” but asked the board to explain the timing and rationale given state and federal funding uncertainty. Board members said the change was discussed in personnel and listening sessions and intended to improve recruitment for roles that compete with other districts and non-education employers, including information-technology positions. Board members also described the administrative staff as “lean” and said the schedule change aims to correct long-standing inequities within the district’s pay scales. The motion to approve the updated salary schedule passed by voice vote; no recorded roll-call vote tally was provided in the meeting minutes. Board members said the district budget included the anticipated cost in preliminary projections so the change could be implemented July 1. The board and administrators said they plan follow-up engagement with other employee groups about possible future changes to professional and support-staff pay scales.