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Board approves staff pay increases, building budgets and policy updates
Summary
The Board of Education approved a 3% across‑the‑board increase for classified staff (roughly 3.15% after payroll costs), certificated/director pay adjustments and building‑level budgets for 2026–27; the board also adopted several policy updates on second reading and approved personnel motions including a contract release and an early‑graduation request.
The Board of Education voted Thursday to approve negotiated pay increases for district staff, modest building‑level budget adjustments for 2026–27 and several policy updates on second reading.
Board chair (speaker 3) moved to approve classified staff wage increases for 2026–27, saying the committee recommended a 3% adjustment and that payroll impacts would net “approximately 3.15” percent once retirement and FICA were included. The motion carried on board vote.
The board also approved certificated/director salary increases and principal contract adjustments as presented. During debate, administrators told the board these increases reflect earlier negotiation‑committee recommendations and efforts to close notable outlier gaps in pay scales. Chair confirmed administrators and the finance committee were comfortable with the proposals before the vote.
Administrators presented building‑level budgets showing largely modest changes districtwide, citing enrollment shifts and program additions as drivers. The high‑school budget increase was driven primarily by adding a $10,000 contribution in year three for the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program and by including recurring welding/air‑gas costs at the building level. The board approved the building‑level budgets after discussion.
On policy, the board adopted spring 2026 updates on second reading, including changes to bidding and contract thresholds and an asthma/anaphylaxis protocol to be included in the student handbook. Speaker 7 noted a numeric discrepancy in a contract‑related paragraph and said the administration would follow up with the law firm for clarification; the policies were adopted as legally written.
Other personnel actions approved included releasing a teacher (Mikaela Kern) from her 2026–27 contract at the teacher’s request and approving an early‑graduation application for a student who met scheduling and post‑secondary criteria.
The meeting adjourned at about 8:36 p.m.
