Board Members:

I'll be brief today; you have had a lot on your plate this week starting with a longer than expected meeting Wednesday. I'll also remind you that we have a special meeting scheduled for this upcoming Wednesday, April 3. I promise it will be short! The materials are available for your review in either the Google or Dropbox folder(s). 

Here are a few of the key points from the AEA bill signed on Wednesday: 

• Sets SSA at 2.5% (House had previously passed 3% but subsequently negotiated it back down)
• Increases minimum salary for teachers to $47,500 for this year and $50,000 for next year. Those with 12 or more years of experience: $60,000 in year 1 and ​$62,000 in year two. ​
• ​$14 million for support staff to increase hourly wage (although the appropriation isn't actually in place yet)
• ​A tiered system for TSS distribution that is designed to minimize salary compaction (that is what is holding ​everything up right now)
• Beginning in 2025-2026, special education, we'll begin to see a shift in how the AEAs are funded, potentially setting up a fee for service model.
• ​Beginning in July, 60% of the educational services and media funds will flow directly to ​school districts, providing for greater control of our own funding stream.  The following year we'll have complete control over those funds.
• DE oversight of the AEAs. 

We're waiting for numbers on the TSS allocation from the Department of Management. I've been running a variety of scenarios, so once we know that number it shouldn't be too difficult to finalize our teacher contract for next year-keep in mind our teacher group will have a say in this conversation. 

Have a great weekend and Happy Easter!

Dr. Tony Voss
Superintendent