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Adams‑Friendship board approves CPI wage increase and longevity payments amid rising healthcare costs
Summary
The board approved a 2.63% CPI wage increase and also authorized longevity payments (bringing the effective average to about 3.02% for affected staff). The district warned of a projected 12–15% health‑insurance increase that could add roughly $372,000 to costs.
The Adams‑Friendship Area School District board voted unanimously to offer employees a 2.63% cost‑of‑living increase and to include scheduled longevity payments for eligible staff, producing an effective average increase of about 3.02% for the group of employees receiving longevity bumps.
Finance committee presenters explained the package to the full board, walking through three scenarios and the longevity schedule (for example, $1,000 every three years for eligible teachers and a $0.25 hourly step for some support staff). The longevity payments add roughly $43,000 to the district’s wage pot and raise the effective percentage for employees who happen to receive a longevity increment this cycle.
At the same time, staff warned the district faces significant health‑insurance cost pressure. Presenters projected a 12%–15% increase in insurance premiums for the coming plan year and cited a $372,000 increase as a representative example, with final insurer numbers expected at the end of April. Board members discussed options including joining a co‑op or shifting some premium costs to employees, and staff noted that any such changes will be subject to follow‑up analysis.
District Administrator Tom framed the longevity payments as a retention tool, noting the district lost large numbers of staff in prior years and introduced longevity adjustments after arriving in 2018–19 to reduce turnover. The motions to adopt the CPI increase and to include longevity passed unanimously on roll‑call votes.
Board members asked staff to return with detailed budget figures showing the dollar impact of the adopted increases and updated health‑insurance quotes so the board can evaluate options before finalizing next fiscal‑year budgets.
