Trustees press staff on flat payroll policy; district highlights benefit increases

Trustees pressed district staff over the impact of a largely flat payroll budget on recruiting and retaining teachers and noninstructional staff. One board member asked, "What impact do we imagine flat payroll will have on teaching on our teachers and on our human resources costs for staffing schools?" Staff responded that statutory step increases and targeted bonuses apply to classroom teachers and that other retention tools — including an increase in employer health contributions — are being used to offset employee costs.