Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Compensation Insurance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fort Atkinson board approves market and longevity pay adjustments, opens contract talks with teachers
Summary
Board adopted market and longevity adjustments for all staff, approved issuance of certified contracts and opened negotiations with the Fort Atkinson Education Association; administration warned of multi‑year budget gaps if state funding and referenda do not continue.
The Fort Atkinson School District Board of Education on April 17 approved districtwide market and longevity adjustments for 2025–26, voted to issue individual certified staff contracts and formally opened collective bargaining with the Fort Atkinson Education Association.
Administration presented updated budget projections showing an $850,000 operating surplus for the current fiscal year, a projected deficit of just under $1 million for 2025–26 and an estimated $3.8 million shortfall for 2026–27 if current revenue assumptions and the existing nonrecurring referendum remain unchanged.
Nathan Kinnitt, director of business services, told the board the district used the January five‑year projection as its baseline and is still awaiting final figures for property insurance, workers’ compensation and transportation. Mandy Turnbull, director of human resources, recommended full market adjustments and full longevity increases across eligible staff groups; she summarized that the total cost of those market and longevity adjustments is “just shy of $350,000,” representing about a 1.6% budget increase for those items.
Turnbull also reported the district’s health insurance renewal initially came in at 14.9% but, after broker negotiations, was reduced to 8.9%. Board members and administrators noted the district had budgeted a 12% health insurance assumption; the negotiated 8.9% renewal was presented as a savings of about $394,000 versus that placeholder.
Board action and votes
- The board adopted the compensation structure for 2025–26 as presented (motion by Ms. Sally; second by Mrs. Reynolds). A roll call vote recorded Ms. Sally, Mrs. Reynolds, Mr. Loop and Mr. Nickram as voting yes; the motion carried. - The board voted to open base wage negotiations with the Fort Atkinson Education Association (motion by Mr. Loop; second by Ms. Selley). That action was approved by voice vote (ayes). The motion does not by itself set a timeline or outcome for any monetary terms. - The board approved issuance of individual certified staff contracts for 2025–26 (motion by Mrs. Reynolds; second by Mr. Loop). A roll call vote recorded the motion passed. - Earlier in the meeting the board approved the consent agenda, which included personnel items, several contracts and donations (motion by Ms. Loop; second by Ms. Selley). A roll call vote recorded the consent agenda as approved.
Kinnitt and Turnbull emphasized the continuing financial uncertainty from state and federal levels. Kinnitt said the projection assumes the current level of state funding in the next biennial budget; he noted the most significant driver of the long‑term shortfall is that the district’s operating referendum is nonrecurring and would expire after 2026–27 unless renewed. Turnbull urged the board that the recommended market and longevity adjustments would position the district for upcoming negotiations and support retention and recruitment by aligning pay to current market data.
The board also received an overview of revenue sources used in the projections: roughly $1.1 million in federal operating dollars (about 2.5% of the district budget), including IDEA and Title I, and about $750,000 in federal support for nutrition services. Administrators said they will present updated assumptions and a preliminary budget at the June board meeting when additional rates and insurance figures are finalized.
