Teacher COLA tabled for now

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Ending the fiscal year with a projected $1.6 million, school superintendent Mike Van Dyke told School Board members he hopes to move $1 million into the building fund.

“We’re heading into a new project and are also looking into a transportation facility. It’s looking a lot better. I feel good about it,” Van Dyke said. The fiscal year ends June 30.

The board discussed, at length, a request from the Certified Personnel Policy Committee for a 3 percent cost of living increase to the base salary of all certified staff. The superintendent said he had no recommendation for the proposal as he did not want to encumber the incoming interim superintendent.

All board members agreed the teachers “do an outstanding job,” as board member Ann Catostated, but questioned whether they can afford the increase with the current building projects underway and said they have always given similar raises to classified personnel. The board reviewed pay scales of other school districts.

“I believe we’re at the top,” board member Joshua Ramsey said of the salaries, saying there were only two districts with higher base salaries, but with considering the $525 between steps, signing bonuses and stipends, Pea Ridge may be at the top of the pay scale. The state requires $400 between steps.

Board president recommended a directive to Dr. Roland Smith, interim superintendent who begins July 1, to look at the budget and the possibility of cost of living increases for employees, both certified and classified.

Upon a recommendation by thesuperintendent, board members rejected the solitary bid received for the library web-based automated system and agreed to re-advertise for bids.

In other business, the board approved:

◊Updated school policies as recommended by the state School Board Association with one amendment, adding that school administrators were to oversee dress codes;

◊Students handbooks for 2011-2012 school year;

◊Appointed Bonnie Colville as district treasurer;

◊School choice requestsfor Ryan Higgins, Collin Higgins, Savanah Cypert, Colton Cypert and Celine Franke;

◊Hiring a class-size reduction teacher for third grade;

◊Placing Brent Kincade, technology director, on the salary schedule at step 27;

◊Increased the contract for Heather Couch, special education clerk, from 178 days to 205 days;

◊A $1,000 stipend for Shelly Bradshaw as a Response to Intervention consultant; and

◊A $1,500 stipend for a safe room site coordinator/ district safety officer.

News, Pages 1 on 06/15/2011