District 7 board approves higher stipends for members and chair

Williston Basin School District 7 approved an amendment to policy BDD to raise annual board member stipends and increase pay for the board chair at the June 3 meeting.

The governance committee recommended raising the annual stipend for board members from $6,200 to $7,600 and increasing the board chair’s stipend to $9,100, citing an estimated weekly time commitment for board service and additional responsibilities borne by the chair.

A motion to approve the governance committee’s recommendation was made and seconded, followed by discussion. Speakers on the record described typical time commitments for board members as averaging 15 to 20 hours per week during the school year and noted the chair performs additional duties, including signing contracts and meeting regularly with the superintendent and district attorney.

Board members asked whether the policy amendment required one or two readings; discussion indicated the change would go into effect July 1, 2025, and the committee’s intent was to enact the increase at the start of the next fiscal year. The motion passed on roll call. Members voting in favor included Wheeler, Kilgore, Walstead, Jones, Barst, Renner and others; the chair declared the motion passed.

Board members explicitly decided not to make the increase retroactive for previous years.