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Avon board approves restructured pay plan for bus drivers, says no one will earn less
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Summary
The board approved an amended support‑staff pay matrix for transportation that standardizes job bands, moves many previous stipends into base pay, introduces a $37 per additional segment rate and stretch pay to smooth checks year‑round; trustees said the change preserves employee compensation and aims to improve recruitment and predictability.
The Avon Community School Corporation board unanimously approved an amended support‑staff pay matrix for the transportation department that takes effect with the 2026–27 school year.
Superintendent Dr. Finley presented the package as a transparency‑driven restructuring of how bus drivers and transportation staff are paid. He said the board had focused on standardizing job bands (commonly described as “3 by 3” and “2 by 2” runs), folding formerly separate stipends into base pay, and adding clearer segment and overtime rates. "We were able to ensure that everyone is still making what they're making and right now," Dr. Finley said, describing the move as both clearer and fairer.
Under the adopted plan, drivers who pick up additional segments will receive $37 per additional segment (the district said it standardized previously varying segment pay to the top rate), while work outside defined job bands will be paid at $18 an hour. The district also preserved "stretch" pay so employees receive pay across vacation and summer breaks rather than only during the instructional year.
Board members pressed on predictability and competitiveness. One trustee asked for explicit confirmation that no employee would see a net decrease; Dr. Finley and staff reiterated that the new structure was designed so "no one will make less" in an apples‑to‑apples comparison and that future raises will apply to the higher base pay. The administration said the district had reviewed surrounding districts and concluded the new pay levels are competitive, citing a sample daily pay range for veteran drivers in the $200s.
Trustees framed the change as part of recruitment and retention efforts. The motion to adopt the amended support‑staff matrix passed 5–0; the board recorded the motion as moving the amendment to take effect with the start of the 2026–27 school year.
Next steps: the administration will implement the new pay bands and continue individual outreach to drivers to confirm individual compensation outcomes and answer questions.
