USD 262 board ratifies 2025–26 negotiated agreement, approves pay-scale and handbook updates; unanimous votes

The USD 262 Board of Education unanimously approved the district’s 2025–26 negotiated agreement, several salary- and handbook-related measures, supplemental contracts and a districtwide cardiac emergency response plan during its regular meeting.

The board voted 6–0 to ratify the negotiated agreement for the 2025–26 school year, approve classified and non‑negotiated salary adjustments, accept supplemental contracts for the upcoming school year and adopt staff handbook updates. The board also approved district cardiac emergency response plans tied to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and directed staff to submit those plans to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment before July 1, per statute.

Why it matters: the ratified agreement applies a 2.5% increase to each cell on the certified salary schedule, maintains step-and-column movement for eligible employees, continues a one-year pilot of the personal‑leave program and incorporates a previously agreed memorandum of understanding on board health‑insurance contribution rates into the contract language. The package includes parallel increases for classified and non‑negotiated employees and changes intended to address pay compression among long‑service classified employees.

Key details and next steps

- Salary and contract terms: The negotiated agreement applies a 2.5% increase to each salary cell on the certified schedule; step-and-column movement remains in place. District staff said the dollar increase per cell varies by placement on the schedule (one presenter estimated roughly $1,200–$1,800 per cell before step/column, but said the figure was not at hand). The board also approved a 2.5% across‑the‑board increase for classified and non‑negotiated positions.

- Classified-specific changes: The district removed a prior cap on experience credit at 27 years so eligible classified employees receive an additional year of service credit moving forward. Transportation positions were reclassified, and bus drivers received an additional dollar on top of the 2.5% increase; the salary effect for activity‑trip drivers differs because experience credit does not apply to that category.

- Cost estimate: A presenter said the total fiscal impact across the increases and adjustments appeared to be “about $400,000 to $500,000” but noted the figure was not confirmed in the meeting record.

- Personal‑leave pilot and evaluation cycle: The contract continues a one‑year pilot of the personal‑leave change to collect additional data on substitute usage and leave patterns. Non‑instructional evaluations were realigned to the instructional evaluation cycle when applicable.

- Cardiac emergency response plans: The board approved district AED plans and supporting communications to parents and first responders and instructed staff to file the plans with KDHE before July 1 so implementation can begin with the next school year.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in meeting minutes)

- Consent agenda (including added property insurance renewal) — Motion: “I move that we accept the consent agenda as presented.” Mover: Sean; Second: Mike. Vote: 6–0; outcome: approved.

- Cardiac emergency response plans (AED plans) — Motion: “I move that we approve the cardiac emergency response plans as presented.” Mover: Mike; Second: Spike. Vote: 6–0; outcome: approved. Staff will submit plans to KDHE prior to July 1.

- Ratification of the negotiated agreement, 2025–26 — Motion: “I move that we accept the ratification of the negotiated agreement for 2025–26.” Mover: Spike; Second: Mike. Vote: 6–0; outcome: approved.

- Classified pay scale changes (2025–26) — Motion: “I move that we pass the classified pay scale changes and accept them as presented.” Mover: Mike; Second: JR. Vote: 6–0; outcome: approved. Changes include 2.5% across base pay rates, removal of the 27‑year cap on experience credit and reclassification / additional $1 for bus drivers.

- Non‑negotiated salary recommendations (2025–26) — Motion: “I move that we accept the non‑negotiated salary recommendations for the 2025–26 school year as presented.” Mover: Spike; Second: Chris. Vote: 6–0; outcome: approved.

- Supplemental contracts for 2025–26 — Motion: “I make a motion to approve the supplemental contracts as presented.” Mover: Shawn; Second: Mike. Vote: 6–0; outcome: approved (list includes filled and some currently unfilled positions to be approved as hires occur).

- Staff handbook updates (aligning handbooks with negotiated agreement language, payout timing and other edits) — Motion: “I move that we approve the handbook updates as presented.” Mover: Mike; Second: JR. Vote: 6–0; outcome: approved.

- Executive session motions (personnel, non‑elected) — Motions to enter executive session for non‑elected personnel were made and approved by roll call (6–0) at two points in the meeting; later the board moved to adjourn (motion approved 6–0).

Discussion and context

District presenters emphasized that the negotiated outcome was the product of an interest‑based bargaining process involving district negotiators and VCNEA leadership. A presenter reported a 95.7% approval vote among VCNEA members for the agreement. District staff said they plan to continue collecting data on the personal‑leave pilot to determine whether to adopt it permanently in future years.

Several board members asked for additional fiscal detail during discussion (including a request for a precise total dollar figure for the district impact); presenters said exact totals would be provided later.

What the board did not decide

The board approved the contract language and pay changes but did not finalize any long‑term policy changes tied to the leave pilot; staff will continue to collect data during the pilot year. Several operational details (exact total fiscal impact, finalized breakdowns by department) were not specified in the meeting record and were left for staff follow‑up.

Speakers (attributed in this article)

- Mr. Lewis — Administrator, Valley Center Public Schools (speaker presenting negotiated agreement and handbook updates). - Spike — Board member (first name used in meeting record). - Mike — Board member (first name used in meeting record). - Sean — Board member (first name used in meeting record). - JR — Board member (first name used in meeting record). - Chris — Board member (first name used in meeting record). - Shawn — Board member (first name used in meeting record).

Authorities referenced

- Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) — referenced as the recipient for district cardiac emergency response plan filings. - Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) — referenced in meeting motions regarding executive session (meeting record used the term "COMA"; article uses the statutory name).