Poplar Bluff R-I school district teachers and staff are getting an unexpected raise for the 2022-23 school year and beyond.
The school board approved a minimum base salary of $38,000 for teachers with a commensurate raise to all other salaries tied to the base salary for fiscal year 2023.
This move is in response to a recommendation from Missouri Gov. Mike Parson that public schools establish a base salary of $38,000.
Although the base salary in Missouri is still at a legal minimum of $25,500, the state is providing a 70/30 grant to help school districts bring their bases salaries to the new recommended minimum.
Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill, in making this recommendation to the board, said, “We think that by doing this, Poplar Bluff becomes the destination for area educators.”
Dill said that in his conversations with other superintendents, “Districts our size at a base of $36,000 and up are moving to the $38,000 base.”
“There is a lot of competition with other school districts for competitive salaries,” Dill said.
This plan is estimated to add up to $4 million to next year’s budget, which is the estimated maximum cost with full employment in the district.
“We can use ESSSR (federal COVID relief) funds to offset the additional cost,” Dill said.
He added that the regularly scheduled increases to the salary base would get the district to this point in approximately three years.
Dill also said that he does not plan to suggest any further additions to the base for the next three years. However, annual step increases will still be provided.
“If there is a budget shortfall, we can reduce the budget through attrition,” he said.
The board had previously approved a $750 increase to the base in March. This new salary schedule will replace that earlier decision.
Dill also announced that the district was exploring options for two new sports — junior high baseball and girls golf. The board also approved the recommendation to create the new position of Assistant Athletic Director.
The board approved the third payment installment for demolition of the downtown administration building to Brockmiller Construction Inc. for $30,889.25. Dill reported that the demolition is complete, and plans for reconstruction are now underway.
In personnel decisions, the school board approved the addition of 10 Restorative Support Instructor positions in a re-envisioning of the in-school suspension program that will place a greater emphasis on restorative justice and reintegrating students back into their classes.
The board also approved the addition of one special education teacher at the high school.
Other board-approved actions included the renewal of a shared beverage vending contract with Coke and Pepsi for the Poplar Bluff High School, contracting with PRO TECH as the Pest Management Service provider for FY 23, and accepting the ESSER Textbook Acquisition as presented.