Blue Valley board approves 4% pay increases for teachers, classified staff and administrators

Blue Valley Board of Education members on Aug. 11 unanimously approved negotiated agreements and compensation recommendations that set a 4% increase across multiple employee groups for the 2025–26 school year.

The board approved the related‑service professionals negotiated agreement after the group reported a 100% yes vote from the 107 members who participated. The board later approved the teachers’ negotiated agreement, which district staff said passed the association’s ratification vote with 97.5% in favor from 1,069 voting members. The board also approved a 4% overall increase for classified wage schedules (more than 1,500 classified employees) and a 4% increase for administrative salaries.

The approvals came after a public comment from a resident urging the board to adopt differentiated compensation measures. “I’m going to advocate that we pay our teachers not only more money, but that we pay good teachers good money, and very good teachers very good salaries, and excellent teachers excellent pay,” said Steve Roberts during the meeting’s Open Forum.

Why it matters: The compensation approvals are the main driver of the district’s proposed 2025–26 spending plan and were discussed alongside the district’s broader budget and tax‑rate notices. District leaders said the increases reflect both negotiated agreements and the district’s recruitment and retention goals.

What the board approved

- Related service professionals negotiated agreement: district staff reported the unit (107 members) voted 100% in favor of the agreement. Motion to approve was moved (mover recorded as Gina) and seconded (Jody); the motion passed unanimously.

- Professional employees (teachers) negotiated agreement: district staff said 1,069 teachers voted in the association ratification and 97.5% approved the agreement. The board approved the agreement by unanimous vote. District staff described the agreement as a 4% increase “in every cell and step movement” on the teacher salary schedule.

- Classified wage schedules: the board approved an overall 4% increase for more than 1,500 classified staff members. Staff explained that some returning employees will also receive additional increases when they move a step on a step‑based schedule; new hires do not receive retroactive step movement.

- Administrator compensation: the board approved a 4% increase for administrators to align with the other compensation items. Staff said administrators are generally paid on an off‑table salary range and the 4% increase is applied as a percentage increase to those salaries.

Details and staff comments

Jeremy McFadden, chief financial officer, and human resources staff answered board questions about the fiscal impact. District staff told the board that health insurance options include district‑supported plans with no premium increase for three district‑supported plans, while other plans available to employees may have increases.

On special education funding, a board member asked what would happen if the district received additional special education revenue. Staff said hypothetically directing those funds to salaries could produce a larger increase (staff estimated a “double‑digit increase somewhere over 12%” if all excess special education funding were applied to the salary schedule), but they emphasized the district currently cannot count on that funding because it is not guaranteed by statute.

Board process and votes

All four compensation items were moved and seconded during the meeting and passed by unanimous voice/hand vote. Meeting minutes show the motions were presented and approved in sequence during the Aug. 11 regular meeting.

Context and next steps

Superintendent Dr. Chapman opened the meeting’s reports by noting the district welcomed 172 new teachers for the school year, and described other district milestones at the start of school. The compensation approvals will be reflected in the district’s 2025–26 budget documents and in payroll implementation for the coming school year.

Board members and district staff said they would continue to monitor recruitment, retention and long‑term budget impacts as the district completes its budget hearings in September.

Ending

The board approved the compensation items as part of a broader Aug. 11 agenda that also included publication of budget notices and a revenue‑neutral rate hearing schedule. All compensation motions were adopted unanimously.