USD 231 Negotiation Meeting

The Gardner Edgerton USD 231 held a negotiation meeting on April 7, 2026, focusing primarily on budget and staffing issues for the upcoming school year. The district presented a detailed budget overview, highlighting total revenues of approximately $110 million, with $72.7 million allocated to the operating budget. Discussions included salary expenditures, staffing levels, and projected budget carryover. The district anticipates a slight budget surplus due to unfilled classified positions and lower substitute costs. They also addressed reductions in state aid, declining enrollment, and plans to reduce certain stipends and school resource officer positions. Additionally, the meeting covered negotiations around teacher plan time, IEP meeting attendance, and related compensation clarifications. Action items included providing requested staffing and budget breakdowns in pie chart format and scheduling a follow-up meeting on April 20, 2026, to discuss compensation offers and plan time proposals.