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Superintendent says district fell short of Indiana's new $45,000 minimum teacher salary; public-records policy updated (first reading)
Summary
At the July 16 meeting, the superintendent reported a state notice that the district's minimum full-time teacher salary for fiscal 2025—26 was $43,000, below the $45,000 minimum required by Indiana law; the board received a first reading of revised public-records policy to comply with state requirements.
The superintendent told the Board of School Trustees on July 16 that the district received a state notice saying it did not meet Indiana's new minimum teacher salary requirement for the 2025—26 fiscal year. "The minimum teacher salary requirement was not met for 2526 fiscal year," the superintendent said, citing Indiana Code 20-28-9-26 and a state notice the administration received.
The disclosure must be entered into the official meeting record and published on the corporation website within 30 days, the superintendent said. Board members did not dispute the statement; the item was presented for public acknowledgement rather than immediate remedial action at the meeting.
Why this matters: Indiana law sets a statutory floor for first-step full-time teacher pay. A public notice can trigger reporting requirements and local scrutiny, and it was raised alongside a summary of the district's recent contract negotiations with the teacher union.
The superintendent explained the context: the district had proposed a $45,000 minimum in contract talks, but the union countered with a two-year agreement that started at $43,000 and phases to $45,000 in the second year. "We started at 43,000, but we had a 2 year contract. And this year, it will get to 45,000," the superintendent said, describing how the negotiated structure spread available raises across experience levels.
District officials also described timing for payroll adjustments: paychecks reflecting the 2025—26 payroll will continue through the Aug. 5 payroll; the next scheduled salary increase will appear on the Aug. 20 payroll, the superintendent said. The district's schedule lists a master's-step of $70,000 and said a literacy endorsement raises that step to $70,250.
On a related administration item, the board took a first reading of revised Policy 209 on public-records access intended to align district procedure with recent state changes (presented as House Enrolled Act 1360). The superintendent said the revisions require an electronic portal on the district website for requests, prioritize requests from Indiana residents and civic, journalistic, academic or personal users, and allow the district to deprioritize or charge for out-of-state or automated requests suspected of data scraping or phishing. "The corporation will deny requests suspected of data scraping, phishing, or cybersecurity risks," the superintendent said, adding that denials will be reported to the Office of Public Access Counselor (OCAC).
The policy is a first reading and will be brought back for a vote at the next board meeting. The superintendent said the administration will ensure the district IT department posts the required portal and that required state reporting will be completed.
What happens next: the board is expected to vote on the revised Policy 209 at the next meeting; the superintendent said the statutory notice about the teacher-salary shortfall will be posted on the corporation website and entered into official meeting records within 30 days.
