School board approves modest pay increases for teachers, support and administrators

The Muncie Community Schools Board of Trustees approved a compensation package that raises teacher base pay and offers stipends intended to retain staff as the district faces uncertain state funding.

A compensation-committee representative told the board that for the 2026–27 academic year ‘‘Our teachers for the 2627 academic year will, will receive if a highly effective teacher will receive a $1,500 increase to base pay. An effective teacher will receive 1000.’’ The proposal also raises starting teacher pay from $52,000 to $52,500, provides a $1,500 per‑semester increase for speech-language pathologists, and shifts building and district teacher‑of‑the‑year awards to one‑time $1,000 stipends.

Support staff receive a modest across‑the‑board hourly increase and a retention stipend that will be paid three times a year; the per‑payment retention amount was reduced from $500 to $300. Administrative staff increases total roughly $47,000 for the year. The presenter estimated the teacher pay increases at about $392,000 annually and an overall compensation increase of roughly $558,000 across all groups.

Trustees asked clarifying questions about the number of teachers affected and the district’s ability to meet state wage/benefit requirements; the presenter said the package was designed to remain sustainable given enrollment and funding uncertainties. The grouped motion to approve the compensation committee recommendations passed by voice vote.

What happens next: the increases were approved as presented; implementation details (payroll timing, stipend payment dates) will be handled by district HR and finance staff.