Cape Girardeau board adopts amended salary schedule effective Jan. 1 to meet Missouri minimum wage

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education unanimously approved an amended classified salary schedule on Jan. 27 that raises pay steps retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, to comply with Missouri's $13.75 minimum wage.

Board members voted to adopt the amended schedules after staff described the change as necessary to raise steps that fell below the new state minimum. Treasurer Miss Dooday told the board the adjustments would be retroactive to Jan. 1 and that payroll processes would be used to recalculate what is owed to affected employees.

The board also approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda earlier in the session. The consent agenda for the Jan. 27 meeting included the minutes from the Dec. 16, 2024, board meeting and payment of bills.

The amendment affects classified staff pay steps and club staff, according to the presentation. No additional changes to the length of contracts or other salary schedule components were described during the discussion.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of meeting agenda: approved by voice vote. - Approval of consent agenda (minutes and payment of bills): approved by voice vote. - Adoption of amended 2024-25 classified salary schedule (effective Jan. 1, 2025): motion carried; amendment applied retroactively; staff to process back pay through payroll.

The board did not specify individual vote tallies for the recorded motions during the public remarks shown in the transcript. The amended schedules were presented as a compliance measure with the state minimum wage increase that took effect Jan. 1.