Smithville R‑II board approves 2025–26 compensation package including $2,500 base increase

Smithville R‑II Board of Education approved a compensation and benefits package for the 2025–26 school year that includes a $2,500 increase to base pay and a 5% increase to the buyback percentage.

Board members discussed the finance committee's recommendation and the district's budget assumptions. The finance committee said it modeled revenues conservatively, aiming for a midpoint between the governor's proposals and worst‑case scenarios, and recommended the package as fiscally manageable given the district's recent levy transfer and planned benefit costs.

The approved package, as presented to the board, includes medical and dental plan options already approved earlier, rolling salary schedules with added steps, a $2,500 addition to base pay (described to the board as roughly a 6.5% increase), and a 5% increase to the buyback percentage. The board and administration noted the levy transfer significantly improved near‑term finances and enabled the package without an immediate tax increase.

The board voted on the motion to approve the compensation recommendations after discussion. The motion was made and seconded; the meeting record does not list an itemized roll call in the transcript and did not provide a full vote tally in the public remarks. The agenda discussion included remarks from the finance committee and superintendent about next‑year budget assumptions and enrollment and benefit cost pressures.

The board chair called for a vote after discussion and the motion was approved. The board directed administration to implement the approved salary and benefit schedule changes for the 2025–26 fiscal year and to bring any required follow‑up paperwork to a future meeting for finalization.