District estimates nearly $4 million cost for proposed salary and insurance changes
June 25, 2026 | Topeka Public Schools, School Boards, Kansas
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Topeka Public Schools negotiators detailed the district's cost estimate for proposed changes to the salary schedule and health-insurance premiums.
Presenter (S1) explained the district's proposal to convert a flat $2,000 base increase into a percentage increase (3.96%) applied to every cell of the salary schedule. That change is paired with an extension of the salary schedule intended to allow employees to recoup missed step movements.
On costs, Presenter (S1) said the district anticipates about $2,600,000 in increased salary expenses for the step adjustments and the percentage application, and about $1,370,000 for the board-paid portion of the requested insurance premium increases. "So the total would be $3,980,000 total for both," Presenter (S1) stated.
Staff member (S4) flagged an apparent typo on the salary grid (doctoral column, year 30) and said corrected copies would be printed and provided. The parties agreed corrections would be produced so negotiators have matching spreadsheets for future deliberation.
Context: the salary and insurance figures will be used in upcoming bargaining sessions to weigh trade-offs with proposed sick-leave language and other contract items. The teams agreed to continue refining proposals ahead of the July 13 follow-up session.
Next steps: corrected salary-grid documents will be distributed; cost estimates will be included in further bargaining discussions.
Presenter (S1) explained the district's proposal to convert a flat $2,000 base increase into a percentage increase (3.96%) applied to every cell of the salary schedule. That change is paired with an extension of the salary schedule intended to allow employees to recoup missed step movements.
On costs, Presenter (S1) said the district anticipates about $2,600,000 in increased salary expenses for the step adjustments and the percentage application, and about $1,370,000 for the board-paid portion of the requested insurance premium increases. "So the total would be $3,980,000 total for both," Presenter (S1) stated.
Staff member (S4) flagged an apparent typo on the salary grid (doctoral column, year 30) and said corrected copies would be printed and provided. The parties agreed corrections would be produced so negotiators have matching spreadsheets for future deliberation.
Context: the salary and insurance figures will be used in upcoming bargaining sessions to weigh trade-offs with proposed sick-leave language and other contract items. The teams agreed to continue refining proposals ahead of the July 13 follow-up session.
Next steps: corrected salary-grid documents will be distributed; cost estimates will be included in further bargaining discussions.
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