School board to discuss salary projection and make an early decision by April

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- The School Board of Education held a work session on Monday, Feb. 9. During the meeting, board members discussed updates from the salary and benefits committee.  

Director of Human Resources Mark Korell said the district has a large group of staff members and teachers who come together to represent the entire workforce. This group acts as a voice for staff and helps develop a plan for salaries and benefits for the 2026–2027 school year.  

Korell explained that the group doesn’t actually make decisions. Instead, they share feedback and concerns from staff so the district can eventually bring a recommendation to the school board.  

“In this process, in the last month and a half or two months, we have spent a lot of time discussing our insurance package for next school year. Unfortunately the cost of everything starts to increase,” Korell said.  

The district is also starting to look at salary projections for next year, including whether there could be an increase or if salaries might need to be frozen.  

Korell said neither he nor Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Robert Hedgecorth are in favor of freezing salaries.  

“Although our salary and benefits committee is really on board with as they understand our financial situation. They would like to have a raise to the base,” Korell added.  

Korell said he is hoping to have decisions made by April, even though state statute does not require salary schedules to be approved until June.  

“I am pushing for April. Dr. Hedgecorth is a little more aware of the legislative session and some changes that could possibly come down so I thinking he is leaning more towards our May meetings,” Korell said.  

Korell also pointed out how the district has several different salary schedules to consider, which is why discussions are expected to begin next month.  

For now, he said staff and faculty shouldn’t expect much information yet since those conversations haven’t officially started.  

“We haven’t finalized our insurance package yet on what those changes are but we do anticipate a increase. We don’t believe it will be a substantial increase,” Korell added.  

The next step, according to Korell, is meeting with the committee again next week to continue insurance discussions and finalize certain details.  

The district’s next board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, at the Troester Media Center.