School Board approves salary increases and new parental leave policy for employees

The Ogden City School District Board of Education convened on May 15, 2025, to discuss key employee agreements as the school year draws to a close. The meeting focused on salary increases, insurance costs, and new employee benefits, with the aim of securing approval for these agreements.

The discussion began with an overview of the employee agreement, highlighting a 0.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all employee groups, alongside a step increase. Education support professionals will receive a one-time bonus of $1,000, prorated for part-time employees, to be distributed in mid-December. Licensed educators will see an adjustment of $1,446, with administrators receiving a matching amount.

The board noted that this year's salary increases are slightly higher than the previous year, despite the lower COLA percentage. The complexity of the salary schedule was acknowledged, emphasizing that maintaining a 1% COLA becomes increasingly costly over time.

In terms of insurance, the district reported a modest 2% increase, significantly lower than the national average of 7%. The district will cover half of this increase, with employees responsible for the other half. This achievement was attributed to employees' efforts to manage costs effectively.

A significant new benefit announced was the introduction of paid parental and postpartum recovery leave, effective July 1. This policy provides three weeks of paid leave for both parental and postpartum recovery, aligning with recent Utah legislation. The district plans to disseminate detailed information to employees on how to access this new leave.

Additionally, education support professionals will gain more flexibility in their leave utilization, similar to licensed employees. The board also discussed the successful implementation of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) that will now be incorporated into procedural manuals, reflecting their effectiveness.

Following the presentations, a motion was made by board member Allred to approve the employee contracts, which was seconded by board member Brunell. The motion passed unanimously, concluding the meeting with a commitment to continue supporting the district's employees.