BURTON SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES EMPLOYEE PAY RAISES, SWEARS IN TRUSTEES
The Burton School Board on Monday approved pay raises for staff in the upcoming school year.
office on Monday to begin service for another term
on the school board.
Trustees signed off on a 1.5 percent increase for non-teaching staff members, based on the midpoint salary. Teachers and bus drivers will receive step scale increases.
Burton ISD Business Manager Caitlyn Blakey-Staal said the district’s cost to implement the added pay is approximately $84,502. Amid ongoing discussion on new state legislation requiring districts to upgrade their bus fleets with three-point seat belt systems, trustees said they could come back to the topic of raises later and give more if they are able to.
The topic of school buses was addressed in a separate item, as trustees approved a resolution regarding Senate Bill 546. The resolution states that based on an evaluation of costs associated with either retrofitting existing buses or purchasing new ones, the district’s budget currently does not allow for that. The new law mandates compliance by September 1, 2029 and requires school boards to formally indicate if their current budget does not permit immediate compliance.
for the start of a new term on the Burton School
Board.
Later, the board agreed to replace the elementary gym floor at a cost not to exceed $100,000. Superintendent Vikki Curry said insurance will cover the cost of the project, which will install a resilient athletic flooring system instead of a standard wood floor.
The meeting also included the swearing-in of trustees Donna Putnam and Dean Fuchs for new terms. Misty Lucherk was not present at the meeting to receive the oath of office. Upon the naming of board officers, Jeff Harmel was chosen as president, Ande Bostain as vice president, and Putnam as secretary.
During a bond update, Weaver and Jacobs Constructors Project Manager Ryan Malinovsky said work in the classroom wing is “pretty well buttoned up”, though there are water connections that still need to be completed. He also reported some “flashing” issues with water coming in at the base of the wall in the gym, meaning the gym floor cannot be laid until those problems are fixed. The board commended employees who worked to clean up after the past night’s storms.
Also in session, the board:
- Agreed to leave the 2026-27 prekindergarten tuition rate unchanged.
- Approved Burton ISD’s 2026 summer school plan.
- Approved the district’s goals and objectives for the 2026-27 school year.
- Approved an Open Education Resources transition plan.
- Authorized the superintendent to hire contractual personnel between May 12th and August 31st.