Caldwell team adopts 2026–27 salary alignment and two stipends; November reissuance set for state placements

The Caldwell School District bargaining team approved changes to the 2026–27 certificated salary schedule that will align employee placement with the Idaho State Department of Education (ISD) career-ladder designations and add two one-time stipend provisions.

District staff explained that initial contracts already issued will remain in effect until the ISD provides official career-ladder placements in November 2026. Any employees whose state designation changes in November will have contracts reissued and any pay adjustments applied retroactively no later than the December 2026 payrolls, district HR staff said. Tina (district HR lead) explained the goal is to avoid multiple reissuances and to limit confusion for staff.

The board approved Addendum A, which provides a one-time stipend for employees placed as AP5 or AP5-plus on the 25–26 schedule who receive no increase under the 26–27 schedule. After discussion about fairness and implementation, the group approved language that sets the stipend at a one-time amount equivalent to 2% of the employee’s base salary for eligible employees (moved by Julie; approved by thumbs/consensus). At the same meeting the board approved Addendum B, a one-time stipend for pupil-personnel-service certificated staff (speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, counselors and similar roles) who hold a master’s degree required for certification; the stipend language was updated for the 26–27 year and approved by the body.

Board members pressed HR on operational details: how Skyward will show designations, the November timing of state data, processing deadlines for payroll, and the logistics of reissuing as many as several hundred contracts. HR said the district will prepare communications and one-pager examples for employees and that the district historically shifts staffing to process reissuances and retro pay in a short, intensive window.

The discussion also reviewed rules for crosswalking early-career placements (R1/R2/R3) and requirements for advancing beyond R3. Staff clarified that teachers new to Idaho with prior experience will be placed temporarily at R1 until credential validations arrive and the state issues a formal designation.

The board approved the package of changes (motions for addenda and option adoption were moved and seconded and passed by consensus). The team scheduled a follow-up session to finalize related contract sections (the relationship compact, CAPS problem-solving language and staff-meeting/15-hour issues).