Board adopts Policy 5005 and approves superintendent addendum to keep salary flat

The Vashon Island School District board unanimously adopted Policy 5005, aligning district practice with the state-required background-check schedule, and approved a superintendent contract addendum that eliminates an automatic 4.7% salary increase and shifts a 3% experience stipend into a 403(b) annuity, leaving the superintendent’s base salary flat for the coming year.

What the board approved: Trustees moved and seconded the two separate items after brief discussion. On Policy 5005, trustees said the policy codifies current practice and state statutory expectations for background checks; the motion passed by voice vote. On the superintendent addendum, district leadership described the change as a gesture of shared sacrifice in a difficult fiscal period. "This final addendum... removes that clause for the automatic increase of 4.7 and will now be flat," the presenter said; the addendum was moved, seconded and approved.

Why it matters: The superintendent’s addendum reduces upward pressure on the payroll budget in a year of constrained finances and signals leadership willingness to limit administrative compensation growth while the district works on broader reductions and a restoration plan. Policy 5005 clarifies background-check schedules required by statute.

Vote details: Both motions were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; trustees recorded unanimous assent during the meeting.

Ending: The board said the addendum is step one in consolidating multiple addenda into a single contract document that will return to the board for final review; Policy 5005 will be included in the district policy manual and posted as adopted.