Jefferson City Board of Education approves door lock contract, pay raise for substitute teachers

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Board of Education approved a contract for door locks at the Jefferson City Academic Center, a pricing amendment for substitute teachers and other staff and heard the preliminary budget at its meeting Thursday.

The board approved a $65,783.70 contract with Riverside Technologies Inc. to put in new door locks at the Jefferson City Academic Center. The district is renovating the Southwest Early Childhood Center to house the new academic center. The facility will serve as an alternative high school and is expected to reopen for the 2026-2027 school year.

The new pricing amendment between the district and Penmac Education Staffing will give substitute teachers and other staff a raise. The new rate is a 28% increase over what the district currently pays. The new rate will go into effect in July.

The board was presented with the preliminary budget for 2026-27. The district is projecting more than $138 million in revenue, an 0.8% increase from this year's budget. Expenditures are projected to be over $135 million, a 6% increase.

The district says the increased cost is largely due to teacher and staff pay raises, increased benefits and adding new staff to the Jefferson City Academic Center.