Wilmot board weighs three support-staff pay-increase scenarios; members lean toward 1.25%

District administrators presented three scenarios to increase support-staff compensation and asked trustees for guidance ahead of a formal recommendation.

An administrator explained the performance-based, share-driven model used for support staff and said an employee can earn up to three shares based on evaluation ratings. The administrator presented three example cost scenarios for applying a per-share increase to the support-staff pool: 1% (about $43,664), 1.25% (about $54,579) and 1.33% (about $58,217). The presenter said those figures represent a maximum cost assuming all employees earned the highest evaluation level, and actual costs would depend on evaluation outcomes.

Board members asked how many employees were included and whether increases had to be across-the-board. The administrator said the numbers exclude professional staff and administration, estimated the group covered by the calculation at roughly 30–40 support employees, and confirmed the district could apply increases individually or by group (with individual compensation discussions handled in closed session if necessary).

Trustees discussed fiscal prudence and fairness; one member suggested the middle option as a compromise between rewarding staff and maintaining budget balance. The administrator said they would bring a recommendation to the Dec. 18 meeting and begin evaluations in January before applying increases to a fully evaluated group.

No formal pay increase was approved during the meeting; the board agreed to revisit the item with a recommendation set for the next scheduled meeting.