School board approves new noncertified compensation plan, reduces pay bands from seven to four

The Schuylkill Valley School District Board approved a revised noncertified employee compensation plan after a presentation by the superintendent, Dr. Quirk, who framed the measure as a multi‑committee effort to standardize language and improve retention and recruitment.

"What you're voting on today is essentially a culminating effort of all of those committee meetings and putting things together for the benefit of our non certified employee compensation plan," Dr. Quirk said, describing a plan that reduces the district's pay bands from seven to four and promises targeted communications to staff. He said the administration would provide in‑person briefings and include details in the July letters when employees receive rate information for the 2026–27 school year.

Trustees pressed for clearer wording about an hourly differential for paraprofessionals in low‑incident classrooms. A board member asked, "Question on page 3 under the paraprofessionals ... that receive $2 per hour — I would think that should be listed as a differential," and sought confirmation that the differential would be lost if a staff member moved out of that assignment. Dr. Quirk agreed to add clarifying language to indicate it is a differential tied to assignment and to communicate the change to affected staff.

The board moved and seconded the plan and approved it as presented; the transcript records the motion carrying unanimously. Administration said it will follow up with impacted staff through individualized meetings and written notices prior to the start of the next school year.

Next steps: the district will publish the clarified plan on its website, hold in‑person briefings for affected employees and reflect any rate changes in July communications for the 2026–27 school year.