The Higbee R-VIII School Board approved salary increases for certified and non-certified staff, an extended school day, and approved the 2026-27 school calendar during its Feb. 19 meeting.

Superintendent Tanner Burton said the changes align with the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, emphasizing recruitment and retention of top employees, safety and security, and academic growth.

Out-of-district tuition will increase to $5,000 per student per year.

The approved 2026-27 school calendar extends the school day from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. State rules prevent a start before Aug. 24, so the first day of the fall semester will be on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Commencement for eighth graders and high school seniors will be held on Fri., May 21.

“We will exceed 1,106 hours, around a 50-hour increase over recent years, but no make-up snow days will be required, and AMI would be a last resort,” Burton explained in his meeting summary. “This will keep us from being in a situation where we would have any five-day weeks.”

Certified teacher base pay will start at $40,600 for a bachelor’s degree, $41,600 for bachelor’s plus nine, $42,600 for bachelor’s plus 18, and $45,000 for a master’s. Annual step increases are $600 for bachelor’s-level columns and $1,000 for master’s.

Non-certified salaries were raised across all positions, with starting pay at $16 per hour or higher, to remain competitive with neighboring districts.

New longevity incentives for all full-time employees offer one-time payments at year’s end: $2,000 after six years, $3,000 after 12 years, $4,000 after 18 years, $5,000 after 24 years, and $6,000 after 30 years. Burton said the plan could total an additional $20,000 over a career.

“We want to recruit talent, but also retain top talent, and this incentive does just that by offering incentives in six-year increments, and towards the end, it will help bolster retirement, as a bonus of the commitment to the Higbee R-VIII School District,” Burton said.

Certification incentives for teachers will pay $100 to $300 annually based on the number of active DESE certifications held, with an extra $50 per year for certifications in elementary math specialist, K-12 special reading, or special education. The incentives could total up to $9,000 over a career, Burton said.

Extra-duty stipends were adjusted as percentages of the new $40,600 base. Pay for gatekeepers, scorekeepers, and scoreboard operators increased from $20 to $25 per game. Tutoring pay rose from $20 to $25 per hour. Mileage reimbursement increased from 45 to 55 cents per mile.

The board approved the purchase of a new baseball/softball LED scoreboard for $23,330. The project will be funded by the district and $16,000 in community donations: $6,000 from Ernie Boggs of the Higbee Truck Show, $2,500 from the Higbee Athletic Boosters, $2,500 from Higbee Alumni, and $5,000 from the baseball and softball programs.

Twenty additional security cameras were approved to improve coverage throughout the district, including parking lots and the new bus barn area.

In personnel matters, the board approved Kristin Cook as a new custodian, James Boyack as a chaperone and driver for the senior trip, Grace and John Schell to share assistant track coach duties, and Courtney Hall as an assistant track coach. It also accepted resignations from Alexis Couldry, Emma Adams, and Stephanie Hampton.