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School board approves 2025–26 salary scales, giving teachers a 3% step raise
Summary
The board approved a package of salary-scale changes including a 3% raise for teachers at step 21, 3% increases for clerical staff at the top of the scale, stipends for school roles and added contract days for some CTE positions. Vote: 7-0.
The Washington County Public Schools Board on Monday approved the division’s 2025–26 salary scales, including a 3% raise for teachers calculated at step 21 and new stipends and contract-day increases for several roles.
Superintendent Dr. Perrigan presented the package and told the board that, if approved, “teachers receive a raise of 3% at step 21.” He added that with the proposal, “step 1 of our teacher scales will go above $50,000 for the first time.” The board approved the measure 7-0.
What the package includes - Teachers: A 3% raise calculated at teachers’ step 21; the superintendent explained that the same dollar amount will be applied to every teacher based on that step. - Clerical staff: A 3% increase applied at the top of the clerical pay scale, intended to improve regional competitiveness. - Other employees: A 3% increase applied at the midpoint of each respective pay scale. - New or changed stipends and contract days: Addition of an academic dean scale; a STEM/robotics coach stipend of $500 at every school; a $2,000 dyslexia specialist stipend for trained reading interventionists; a $500 stipend for SCA (student council) sponsors; a special-education lead teacher stipend (just over $1,000) for elementary and middle schools; a $2,500 increase to the school psychologist stipend; five additional days for nationally certified CTE teachers; and 10 additional days for TSA (Technology Student Association) sponsors.
Board comments and rationale Board members emphasized recruitment and retention as the driving rationale. One board member framed the vote as part of a broader strategy to “recruit and retain the very best employees,” and another said the district’s competitive pay and benefits give the division choice in hiring. A board member requested clarification on how the teacher 3% would be calculated. Dr. Perrigan explained that if step 21 on the current scale were, for example, $70,000, the 3% would be taken from that step and applied as a uniform dollar increase to all teachers.
Vote and next steps The board voted unanimously, 7-0, to adopt the salary scales as presented. The superintendent and central office will implement the scale changes for the 2025–26 fiscal year and report follow-up details as payroll preparations proceed.
