Nearly 2,500 local teachers may get smaller pay raises than expected in 2026 under a plan proposed by Salem-Keizer School District leaders to avoid layoffs.

School officials on Wednesday proposed to union leaders Wednesday shaving the promised 3.5% raise down to 1.5% next year.

A teacher making $60,000 per year would see a cost of living raise of about $2,100 under the current contract. The district proposal would reduce that raise to $900.

The raises were to kick in July 1, 2026. The union leaders would have to agree to the cut.

Such a move would save about $5.3 million next school year.

Those savings would prevent layoffs later in this school year. The district has not provided an estimate of how many jobs would have to be cut without the pay reduction.

Administrators and superviso

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