Triton Schools working to meet teacher pay benchmark

Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 12:00 AM

By Rusty Nixon

11-12-26 Thursday News 12 A.M. E-3

Superintendent of Triton Schools, Jeremy Riffle, addressed the School Board on teacher salaries during Monday's meeting, Nov. 11, saying the corporation was informed by the Department of Education that it had failed to meet a state teacher salary threshold.

Indiana law requires schools to spend 65 percent of their tuition support on teacher salaries. Triton was slightly below that level at 63.49 percent.

Riffle told the board the difference was that when more experienced teachers retire or leave the corporation, they are generally replaced by less experienced teachers who start at lower salaries.

Riffle told the board there was no penalty for missing the threshold, but the corporation must acknowledge the deficit in a public meeting and publish that acknowledgment on its website.

The corporation spent just over $3 million on teacher salaries, which was less than the previous year. Riffle also told the board the corporation was down 30 students, meaning Triton received $210,000 less in tuition support from the state.

It is anticipated that the corporation will meet the 65 percent threshold in the coming year.