Frederic School District board approves 3% pay increase and revises support-staff longevity stipends

The Frederic School District board voted to increase compensation for all staff by 3% for the 2026–27 school year and to revise longevity recognition for support staff.

Administrators told the board the district used the July 1 Consumer Price Index (2.63%) as background and recommended a 3% raise. The proposal treats the annual step increase as included within that 3% rather than as an additional payment. Support-staff pay scales were adjusted by multiplying current levels by 1.03, and stipend amounts tied to advanced credentials (master’s, specialist, national certification) were also increased by 3%.

The board also changed the longevity stipend structure for support staff from a 10/20/30-year system to more frequent milestones — proposed as 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years — with one-time bonuses (outlined in discussion as roughly $600 increments per milestone) rather than permanent base increases. Administrators said the longevity payments are one-time stipends to thank long-serving employees without permanently increasing base salary obligations.

Board members debated comparators from neighboring districts and acknowledged that some districts offer higher percentages or flat-dollar increases, but the majority favored a modest raise to remain fiscally sustainable. Officials said the increases take effect July 1 and will apply to year-round support staff immediately; certified staff will see the adjustment when their contracts renew in August.

The motion to approve the 3% raise and the revised longevity schedule passed after a second and roll-call-style affirmation; no named dissent was recorded in the transcript.