Teachers urge larger raises as board weighs 2026-27 budget

Dozens of teachers, union representatives and community members used the May 11 public comment period to press the Dearborn Board of Education for pay increases that they said would retain staff and help families cope with rising living costs.

Fifth-grade teacher Joe Winkle told the board that a meaningful raise is "about us surviving," saying higher gas, grocery and utility costs make modest increases insufficient. "The wage increase is about us surviving and… providing for our family members," he said.

Other speakers — including longtime teachers and staff representatives — described workload, burnout and the need to keep experienced educators in the district. The DFT and multiple teachers argued a 1% increase put forward in some budget scenarios would not keep pace with local cost pressures and would send the wrong message about valuing staff.

Thomas (Tom) Wall, the district’s executive director for business affairs, presented staffing-cost figures during the budget public hearing later in the meeting. He said the district estimates a 1% raise across staffing categories equals roughly $1,800,000 in additional salary costs; the board’s budget models show scenarios that range from a 1% to a 3% increase depending on state aid and enrollment outcomes.

Trustees acknowledged the urgency expressed by classroom staff while reminding speakers that formal raises are subject to negotiations between the district and bargaining units. Several trustees said they support compensating staff fairly but also emphasized the budget’s three main drivers — state aid, student counts and compensation — and warned that categorical grant changes and infrastructure needs constrain available general-fund dollars.

The board took no final action on compensation at the May 11 hearing. Budget adoption is scheduled for a later meeting, and trustees said they would continue to work through revenue and staffing assumptions before formalizing contractual proposals.