St. Joseph School District leaders are proposing changes to the district’s career ladder pay structure, including reducing the maximum annual stipend from $5,000 to $3,000 and moving to a two-level system. The plan requires teachers to have two or more years of experience in Missouri public schools and complete at least 50 hours to reach the maximum stipend of $1,500 in the first stage. The second stage requires three or more years of experience and at least 75 hours for a maximum stipend of $3,000. The changes are being considered as the state plans to cut approximately $20 million from the Career Ladder program.