HR Committee recommends 2.63% CPI-based pay increases and schedule adjustments for 2026–27

The Human Resources Committee of the Waunakee Community School District on May 8 recommended that the full Board of Education approve pay increases for administration, administrative support, administrative assistants, classified staff, custodial/maintenance staff and supplemental teacher pay for the 2026–27 year.

Committee discussion centered on a base adjustment tied to the WERC-calculated consumer price index. As the committee record notes, "Wage increases include the WERC-calculated CPI increase of 2.63% for all groups." Grabarski reviewed the compensation summary and, with Summers, answered questions about how the district's payroll system would operate and the budgetary impacts of the increases.

The committee also supported targeted "catch-up" adjustments where internal pay lagged peer-district averages. Members agreed the appropriate internal salary target should be 104% of the average peer compensation and favored annual catch-up analysis rather than waiting three years. The committee voted to recommend the package to the full board; "A motion was made by Hetzel, seconded by Ensign, to recommend to the full board to approve the pay increases... Motion carried 3-0."

The teacher base wage was noted as a separate negotiation item: a 2.63% base wage increase for the Waunakee Teacher's Association was tentatively agreed upon at negotiations on April 21, 2026, and base-wage approval for teachers will be considered by the full board on May 11, 2026.

Next steps: the full board will take up the committee recommendation at a future meeting where final budget adjustments and adoption must be approved.