Board ratifies teacher contract, approves staff pay increases and votes 5-4 to remove employee assistance program

The Medford Area Public School District Board of Education approved multiple finance-related personnel and contract measures and narrowly voted to end the district's employee assistance program.

The finance committee's recommendations carried after board action: support staff will receive a $0.50-per-hour increase (plus appropriate slide placement) effective July 1, 2026; the board ratified the teachers union collective bargaining agreement providing a base wage increase of 2.63% for the 2026-27 year; and the board authorized $85,710 to be used for supplemental teacher pay for the 2026-27 contract year.

A separate motion (Zuleger/Werner) to remove the employee assistance program as of July 1, 2026 and seek other options passed on a roll-call vote: Yes — John Zuleger, Dave Fleegel, Aemus Balsis, Kurt Werner and Don Everhard; No — Heidi Haynes, Brian Hallgren, Corey Dassow and Steve Deml. The minutes record the 5-4 result and identify the yes and no votes by name.

The finance committee also moved to increase certified staff Sick and Personal Days pay from $75 per day to $100 per day and adjusted vacation allotments for 11- and 12-month support staff; motions were recorded as carried. The meeting record does not include detailed cost breakdowns or long-term actuarial impact statements for the benefit changes discussed.

Next steps recorded in the minutes included implementing the approved wage and handbook changes effective July 1, 2026 and proceeding with the ratified teachers' contract for the 2026-27 year.