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Board discusses HB 728 reclassification; interim superintendent recommends moving one PA to assistant principal
Summary
An interim superintendent’s letter recommended reclassifying some principal assistants to assistant principals to align titles with duties and recoup state funding under House Bill 728; trustees asked for cost estimates and a side-by-side comparison of options before any action.
Trustees discussed how House Bill 728 will affect staff classifications and district funding for the 2026–27 school year after the interim superintendent provided a written recommendation.
The letter, read aloud by a board member, said the change in statutory definitions means administrators are fully funded by the state while instructional support staff are not. It recommended reclassifying certain principal assistants (PAs) to assistant principals (APs) — specifically recommending that Lakeland Middle School’s PA be moved to an assistant-principal role to align authority with duties and recover some state funding.
The interim superintendent’s letter noted that 13 positions in the district currently fall into the instructional support staff category, eight of which are principal assistants; the letter outlined options such as assigning rosters to specialists so they qualify as teachers or recoding PAs to administrator positions to recoup funding. The letter emphasized maintaining program function and cautioned about public perception if classifications appear to add "principal" positions without corresponding duties.
Trustees stressed the need for clear dollar estimates and comparisons. One trustee asked for a breakdown showing the financial impact of each option and a comparison of contract type and salary-schedule implications; staff said they would provide the numbers. Trustees also noted the timing: statutory changes take effect July 1, creating an abbreviated timeline for any coding or contract changes ahead of the next school year.
Board members did not take action; they treated the item as a discussion and asked staff to return with a full cost analysis, contract implications, and a recommended timeline before any reclassification.
