About 100 Union Public Schools teachers will receive $3,000 to $10,000 stipends in the 2026-27 school year under a state retention program the board renewed Monday, Sept. 14.
The Board of Education approved the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program (OTEP) renewal and a $182.2 million general fund budget at its meeting at the Union Education Service Center, according to the district's board report.
Under OTEP, districts can designate up to 10 percent of their teachers as advanced, lead or master teachers. Associate Superintendent Sandi Calvin said that works out to "approximately 100 teachers for Union Public Schools."
Every Union school qualifies.
All of the district's schools exceed the 40 percent threshold for economically disadvantaged students. That means every designated teacher also receives a one-time bonus of $1,500 to $5,000, depending on designation level.
One change for 2026-27: the program no longer requires a teacher attendance component that was part of prior years, Calvin said.
Union has participated in OTEP since the 2024-25 school year. Teachers districtwide received $804,000 in OTEP funds that first year and $1,090,500 in 2025-26, according to the board report.
The state program, administered by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, lets teachers boost their compensation without moving into administrative roles.
Budget sets higher spending limits
The board also approved the district's 2026-27 annual budget, setting appropriation limits at $182.2 million for the general fund, $20.6 million for the building fund and $18.6 million for the child nutrition fund. An appropriation limit is a spending ceiling, not a projection of actual spending.
For the 2025-26 fiscal year, the board approved total revenues of about $153.8 million and expenditures of about $154.7 million. A like-for-like comparison of appropriation limits across the two years is not available in public records.
Other board actions
Board members approved a contract with HUB International for employee benefit consulting services starting in January 2027. Jay Loegering, executive director of Human Resources, said HUB's flat annual fee is $196,474, reduced by commissions the firm earns from district products. HUB calculated savings of about $40,000 based on prior years' commissions, Loegering said.
HUB also places up to 25 percent of its fees at risk if it does not meet agreed-upon performance measures, Loegering said.
The board renewed its PPO plan agreement with United Health Care, noting a 3 percent increase in premium rates, and renewed health care services with CareATC.
Other approvals included 60 time clocks from Kronos SaaShr Inc. for $134,850 and a two-year license for the Ellevation Platform, a web-based tool for English Learner student data, for $260,190.
The five-member board includes Joey Reyes, Dr. Chris McNeil, Heather McAdams, Stacey Roemerman and Steve Nguyen. HUB International's contract takes effect in January 2027.
