McFarland board unanimously adopts simplified 2026–27 certified staff salary schedule

The McFarland School Board voted to adopt the 2026–27 certified staff compensation schedule after administration presented a simplified pay structure aimed at increasing market competitiveness and predictability.

District Administrator Tarnitzer summarized the proposal as a simplified, transparent salary schedule that reduces reliance on external professional-development lanes, targets the local median for pay, separates hard-to-fill market adjustments, and phases in increases with annual caps so no staff will lose pay during transition. "The idea is that the job is enough," Tarnitzer said, describing a schedule that rewards in-school performance and targets predictability for veteran staff.

Board members praised the committee process: the district convened a compensation committee that met multiple times and used an outside consultant and staff feedback, and the board heard that the schedule aims to retain early-career teachers and close gaps for long-tenured staff. One board member said the schedule showed the district was "spending money where we should be spending money, and that's on our teachers." The motion to approve was moved by a board member (speaker 2) and seconded (speaker 7); the chair called for the vote and announced the motion carried, recorded as 5–0.

What changed: The schedule reduces lane-based credit requirements that previously required outside coursework for advancement, clarifies pay for hard-to-fill positions, increases predictability of step increases for veteran teachers, and phases in increases with caps to manage district finances.

Next steps: Administration will implement the schedule in the 2026–27 pay cycle; the board did not attach additional conditions in the meeting.