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Stillwater board approves READ Act MOU allowing teacher certification stipends or credit
Summary
The board approved a memorandum of understanding implementing READ Act training: the program is estimated at 64 hours per volume, offers a $480 per‑volume stipend (total listed as $960 per volume in presentation) or up to six graduate credits per volume toward lane change, and staff will notify eligible teachers to submit vouchers after the MOU is signed.
The Stillwater Area Public Schools Board approved a memorandum of understanding tied to the state READ Act that establishes certification training for teachers and options for compensation.
Chair Sherman introduced consent item B and asked district staff to summarize the agreement. Chris, a district administrator, said the district selected a letter‑certification training program estimated at roughly 64 hours per volume, most of which the district covered by rearranging professional development days; about 16 hours remained outside the workday. The state provided grant funding to support participation, and the district will offer two compensation options: a stipend that the presentation described as $480 per volume (the presenter noted a total of $960 per volume in the slide text) or up to six graduate credits per volume that teachers may apply toward a lane change on the salary schedule. "Once the MOU is signed, I will send out communication to our teachers who have already completed the training and certification or who are in the process, to submit their vouchers," Chris said during the presentation.
Board members asked clarification questions about eligibility and take‑up. Chris said about 10 teachers had elected to take credit instead of the stipend so far and that eligibility generally includes staff with literacy responsibilities: K–5 classroom teachers, ML/EL licensed teachers, 6–12 English teachers, and special education staff who have literacy duties. Board members also emphasized that the district rearranged PD time to cover the majority of training hours.
Chair Sherman moved to approve the consent item and the board approved it by roll‑call. The MOU was characterized in the meeting as a strategic priority aligned with the district’s strategic plan and with state READ Act requirements. The district will finalize signings and notify eligible staff to process payments or credit requests.
What remains to be finalized: the district presentation listed both a $480 per‑volume stipend and a total amount of $960 per volume; the MOU text should be consulted for exact dollar amounts per teacher and any conditions for stipend eligibility.
