Guthrie board adopts support personnel handbook change adding alternate salary schedule and longevity stipend
Summary
The board approved redline revisions to the 2025–26 support personnel handbook to create an alternate salary schedule for new hires who opt out of the Teachers' Retirement System and to add a $500 annual longevity stipend for support staff after seven years of continuous service.
The Guthrie Public Schools Board approved redline revisions to the support personnel handbook for the 2025–26 school year that create an alternative pay schedule for certain new support staff and add a longevity stipend for long-serving employees.
Administration said the change would create an additional support-staff salary schedule that applies only to new employees who have never participated in the Teachers' Retirement System and who elect not to participate; current support staff are not eligible for the alternate schedule due to Teachers' Retirement System rules. Transcript remarks noted the district pays the full 7% employer contribution to the TRS for participating employees.
The revision also provides that support staff members who have achieved seven years of continuous service with the district will receive a $500 longevity stipend in December of the following year; this stipend applies to current employees as described in the proposed redline.
Board members moved, seconded, and approved the handbook changes on a roll-call vote of seven ayes and no nays. Administration said staff (Mr. Hancock and Dr. Chapel) will meet with support staff to explain the changes and hold a question-and-answer session.
The handbook pages identified in meeting materials were pages 90–127 of the packet, with operative changes on page 10 of the handbook (packet page 100) through page 12 of the handbook (packet page 102), per administration.
