Board ratifies teacher contract with 3 percent salary increase

Administrators receive 3.1 percent salary increase

Board approves 10-cent increase for school meals

Board rejects lower bid to maintain 45-year insurance relationship

Special education cooperative discloses IRS debt and budget deficit

District launches Unified Bowling program for special education inclusion

Girls flag football coming to Dodge City High School

Parents push back against ouster of high school baseball coach

Updated school handbooks address cell phone bans and fan behavior

Board ratifies teacher contract with 3 percent salary increase

DODGE CITY, Kan. — The Dodge City Public Schools Board of Education unanimously ratified the negotiated agreement for certified staff, implementing a cost-of-living increase to the salary schedule, which the district stated is a 3.09 percent raise. The increase raises the base teaching salary from $51,750 to $53,000 and adds a new salary column for educators with a master's degree plus 45 credit hours. The raises represent an estimated $900,678 increase to certified salaries before fringe benefits, which will be funded from the general and at-risk funds. The agreement previously passed a teacher vote with 96.7 percent approval.

Administrators receive 3.1 percent salary increase

DODGE CITY, Kan. — The board unanimously approved a 3.1 percent salary increase for administrative and exempt employees for the upcoming school year. The raises will cost the district approximately $29,000 before taxes. District administration noted that positive increases in base state aid per pupil and current budget projections made the new money sustainable. The board will vote on the classified staff salary schedule at its June 22, 2026, meeting to allow time to finalize details of the new pay structure.

Board approves 10-cent increase for school meals

DODGE CITY, Kan. — School breakfast and lunch prices will increase by 10 cents across the board for the upcoming school year. The board unanimously approved the price hike after reviewing nutrition program guidelines from the Kansas State Department of Education. The district's summer food program remains highly active and served roughly 20,000 meals in the past week alone.

Board rejects lower bid to maintain 45-year insurance relationship

DODGE CITY, Kan. — In a move against an administrative recommendation, the board voted unanimously to renew its property and casualty insurance with the district's longtime traditional carrier, EMC Insurance Companies, over a lower bid from the Kansas Insurance Cooperative for Schools (KICKS). While the competing proposal was approximately $84,000 cheaper, board members emphasized the value of their 45-year relationship with the carrier and its reliable track record. Board members argued that the incumbent provider's history of claim support and customer service during crises outweighed the financial savings for the district.

Special education cooperative discloses IRS debt and budget deficit

DODGE CITY, Kan. — Jason Wright, executive director of the Southwest Kansas Area Cooperative District, presented a financial update to the board, stating the cooperative faces roughly $450,000 in outstanding Internal Revenue Service tax debt dating back to 2017. Wright also reported that the organization experienced a $600,000 budget deficit this year, which forced the cooperative's board of directors to authorize a supplemental spring assessment that cost Dodge City Public Schools an additional $320,000. Wright told the board the cooperative is struggling to communicate with its assigned IRS revenue officer to resolve the accumulating interest and highlighted the need to build a larger cash reserve to stabilize the organization's long-term budget.

District launches Unified Bowling program for special education inclusion

DODGE CITY, Kan. — The board unanimously approved the addition of a Unified Bowling program for the upcoming fall season, ensuring Dodge City is no longer the only school in its league without the sport. The inclusion-based program pairs special education students with regular education students to compete together on the same teams. The district expects 35 to 40 students to participate in the six-to-eight-week season, taking advantage of Dodge City High School's newly opened on-campus bowling alley and athletic facility.

Girls flag football coming to Dodge City High School

DODGE CITY, Kan. — Dodge City High School will introduce girls flag football as an intramural club program next school year, with plans to fully implement it as a Kansas State High School Activities Association sanctioned fall sport for the 2026–27 season. The board approved the phased rollout to gauge student interest and secure coaching staff before fully committing to the Western Athletic Conference schedule. During the sanctioned season, the team will play a six-game schedule, with home games intentionally scheduled opposite of soccer matches to manage stadium availability.

Parents push back against ouster of high school baseball coach

DODGE CITY, Kan. — A crowd of residents and parents attended the meeting to express frustration and demand transparency regarding the removal of the Dodge City High School head baseball coach. Speakers praised the coach's dedication to building a youth baseball pipeline, and several speakers alleged that a parent's complaint about playing time led to the personnel change. Board members thanked the public for their input but cited confidentiality rules and declined to discuss the specific personnel issue in an open session.

Updated school handbooks address cell phone bans and fan behavior

DODGE CITY, Kan. — The board held a first reading of the consolidated elementary and secondary school handbooks for the upcoming academic year, featuring new language outlining expectations for the district's cell phone ban. Secondary handbooks have also been updated to address fan behavior at athletic events, giving administrators more leeway to address disruptive spectators. Elementary handbooks now include an explanation of visitor and guest policies to help parents better understand campus safety protocols. The handbooks will return for final approval at the next board meeting.

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