Webster Groves board approves small pay bump for custodians to reduce vacancies

District staff reported a persistent custodial staffing shortage—eight unfilled positions since the end of last school year—and recommended a modest increase to the custodial base pay to improve recruitment. The board voted Sept. 24 to raise the custodian base from $17.09 to $17.77 per hour for the 2026'27 year.

Staff described operational impacts: with fewer custodians the district has prioritized maintenance-level cleaning and cannot consistently perform deeper cleaning tasks across all buildings. The custodial manager and other staff have been working overtime to cover gaps. The recommended raise was derived from a regional compensation analysis that set the district above nearby lower-paying districts but below some higher-paying neighboring districts.

When asked about fiscal impact, Jacob Myers (speaker 9) estimated the cost to the current fiscal year would be "somewhere between $50 and $60,000," noting vacancies to date offset some of the immediate budget pressure. Board members discussed whether this step would be enough to attract applicants and whether more long'term staffing increases would be needed if Prop W funding is not approved. The motion to increase the base rate carried and staff will monitor hiring and report back.