Board approves new certificated salary schedule; negotiated agreement fails and is returned for revision

The Lakeland Joint School District 2526 board approved new certificated salary schedules intended to implement recent state minimums and to phase in previously paid advanced‑professional (AP) stipends by building them into base pay for eligible staff.

During a lengthy discussion, Chief Finance Officer Jessica Grant explained the mechanics: the district moved its previous cell structure so that the new required state minimum salary became the new cell 1, and the schedule includes a “shadow schedule” that preserves existing stipend‑level pay for certain veteran employees while the district transitions to the new structure. Grant said the approach was designed to meet the state mandate without producing an unsustainable immediate budget increase; she cautioned the approach will take years to fully phase in as higher‑paid veteran employees retire or leave.

Nut graf: The board’s action implements state‑mandated minimums for certificated staff, alters how advanced‑professional stipends are reported (they are being incorporated into base salaries for affected employees), and leaves open larger negotiated‑agreement issues after the board failed to ratify the entire agreement.

What the board did - Approved certificated salary schedule and related placement provisions. Trustees moved to approve the schedule as presented; the motion passed and staff said they will…