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District outlines STARS Act effect: starting teacher pay set at about $48,300; district estimates ~$35,300 fiscal impact
Summary
A district presentation explained how the STARS Act and the board's bargaining agreement set a 70% starting teacher salary benchmark for 2026-27 (roughly $48,300); staff estimated about 106 teachers would be affected and an approximate district cost of $35,297.
District staff reported May 11 on local implementation of Montana's STARS Act, the state initiative tied to Montana House Bill 252. The report explained how district and union bargaining incorporated the STARS Act when calculating starting teacher salaries for 2026-27.
The presenter said the parties agreed to a 70% starting salary threshold for 2026-27. Using high-school average salary calculations, staff said that produced a starting figure of about $48,300; elementary averages produced roughly $47,362. District staff estimated approximately 106 teachers would receive incremental adjustments tied to the change and calculated an approximate fiscal impact to the district of $35,297 for 2026-27. Those figures were described as approximate and subject to adjustment when final salary placements are calculated.
Trustees asked whether the STARS Act had improved teacher recruitment; the presenter replied it has helped put the district on the map by raising starting pay. A trustee also described how last year's larger initial jump was smoothed through the current bargaining approach.
Next steps: figures will be finalized when the district places teachers on the 2026-27 salary schedule and as hires/placements are completed.
