Beatrice board approves 2025-26 negotiated agreement with teachers; $1,000 base raise included

The Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education on March 10 approved the 2025-26 negotiated agreement with the Beatrice Education Association (BEA), the board said, following committee negotiations and a BEA ratification vote.

Doris (board member) told the board the negotiations committee and the BEA met eight times and reached agreement on Feb. 3, 2025; BEA members approved the agreement on Feb. 6, 2025. The package includes a $1,000 base increase, retains the $1,200 insurance deductible and did not change the salary schedule, Doris said.

"Negotiations went smoothly this year and the board thanks BEA for a successful negotiations year," Doris said, and she thanked committee members Jenna Byers and Bridal Petrovsky for serving on negotiations.

The administration provided package-range figures for salary-and-benefit combinations included in the agreement. The board was given ranges the administration presented for beginning, median and highest total compensation packages depending on single or family insurance; those figures were presented during the meeting by district staff and summarized by the negotiations report.

The motion to approve the negotiated agreement was moved and seconded; the board voted and the motion passed.

The agreement also incorporates negotiated changes discussed earlier in the meeting, including adjustments to the sick-leave donation bank and clarifications on new-hire placement and temporary salary increases for positions with limited applicant pools. The board’s packet lists implementation details and salary-package ranges for single and family insurance tiers.

Board members asked no additional questions at the March 10 meeting; the board recorded the vote as approved.