Pelham board raises bus-driver and custodial pay, adopts 2025–26 salary schedule

PELHAM, Ala. — In a package of personnel and pay actions on July 28, the Pelham Board of Education voted to increase bus-driver and custodial salaries, adopt a change to paid instructional days required by the state, and approve the district's 2025–26 salary schedule and revised supplement schedules.

Superintendent Doctor Costanza told the board the pay changes are intended to help recruit and retain classified employees in a competitive labor market. "The main thing is to recruit and retain, high quality, classified personnel, specifically bus drivers, that we know across the state are very difficult to find," Costanza said.

The board approved proposed adjustments to the bus-driver salary schedule and to custodial pay; the two items were considered together to respond to regional pay competition. Members then approved a change in the pay for instructional days from 200 to 207 days, which Costanza and a board member said is required by the Department of Education.

Following those votes, the board adopted the 2025–26 salary schedule, which incorporates the recently approved changes. The board also approved revisions to the athletic and academic supplement schedules used to calculate extracurricular stipends and pay points.

Formal action: the board approved the proposed salary adjustments, the instructional-day change, the overall 2025–26 salary schedule and the athletic/academic supplement schedule by voice votes; no recorded roll-call tallies were provided.

Why it matters: Board members said the adjustments are aimed at improving recruitment and retention for positions the district struggles to fill. The instructional-day change was presented to the board as a state requirement; the superintendent confirmed the district must implement it.