Ark Valley News - School pay raises depend on lawmakers

School pay raises depend on lawmakers
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: June 11, 2015

All employees of the Valley Center school district will get a small pay raise next year, if the state comes through with a tax plan.

And that's a big if.

As of June 9, lawmakers were at a stalemate with a tax plan to support a state budget for next fiscal year. Without enough revenue (about $400 million short), the governor's office has been voicing possible allotments, which could mean an across-the-board 6 percent cut to all state funding, including aid to public schools.

"For us, that would mean $1 million," Valley Center Superintendent Cory Gibson said. "It would be dramatic. We have no contingency plan for that."

The school board on June 8 talked dollars and cents as the district prepares to set its own 2015-16 operating budget and brace for possible additional cuts in state aid.

The board unanimously approved a contract with teachers that calls for a roughly 1.3 percent increase in salaries. For example, a teacher making $40,000 a year would receive a $520 pay increase.

Teachers will vote on the contract June 12.

The school bard also agreed to apply the 1.3 percent increase to non-teaching staff, including administrators and hourly employees.

All told, the raises would cost the district about $150,000 next year.

"I guarantee that 1.3 percent makes a huge difference in morale," Gibson said, pointing out that many employees saw their insurance premiums increase by one-half percent and experienced a 1 percent decrease in take-home pay because of changes in mandatory retirement contributions.

The employee pay increases weren't set in stone, however.

The board said it could rescind the raises if additional cuts in state aid for 2015-16 totaled more than $150,000.

To raise revenue for next year, the school board this week completed a series of fee increases that will affect all families.

On a 6-1 vote, the school board approved hikes in enrollment fees for next year as well as an increase in the cost of athletic passes.

Enrollment fees for all grade levels will increase by $10 per student. The board voted on increasing the middle school and high school fees June 8. It previously voted to hike the elementary fee by $10.

The district said the $10 would help offset some of the costs of non-sports activities and passes for sports events. The fee would not replace the dues that some clubs and organizations already require.

With this week's vote, athletic passes increased from $140 to $165 for a family of four, from $55 to $75 for a single adult, from $90 to $110 for two adults and from $35 to $40 for students.

Dave Spears voted against the increases. He wondered whether activity groups that travel more should require a higher fee.

"It would be difficult to come up with an equitable way to do that," said Mike Bonner, assistant superintendent.

Gibson said the fee and athletic pass increases could bring in about $20,000 in additional revenue next year.

In response to the state's block grant-funding system, which the Legislature passed earlier this year and essentially freezes state aid to public school districts over the next three years, the Valley Center school board approved a proposal to modify its out-of-district enrollment request policy.

With this week's vote, Valley Center will not accept new enrollment requests for students who live outside of the district. Valley Center will allow the children of staff members as well as out-of-district students who attended last year to enroll.

Gibson said he would not intentionally break up families if one family member attended last year and another wanted to enroll for the first time in 2015-16.

The Learning Center, which accepts out-of-district students, is not affected by the policy.

With the grant system, the district will receive no additional funds for enrollment increases next year.

Board members stepping down

One long-time board member and a second one-term member had their final regular board meetings June 8.

Neither Dave Spears nor Colin McKenney sought re-election this year. Spears served on the board for 12 years; McKenney four.

Spears said this week was his 225th board meeting.

"I want to thank all the patrons for giving me an opportunity to serve on this board," he said. "It's been an honor."

Spears was board president for six years. He thanked his fellow board members and administrators for their efforts. He also thanked his family for the support they gave to him over the years.

"Sometimes, families take a lot of flak for being on the board," Spears said.

"You guys will be missed," board president Brad Barbour said. "That's for sure."

"Thank you Dave and Colin for your time and stewardship to make our district a better place," Gibson added. "… You do have an impact."

Joining the board in July will be Sara Osterman and Dawn Stiglitz. Roger Joyal and Rhonda Price were re-elected in the spring.

In other business June 8, the board:

•Approved the district's membership in the South Central Kansas Service Center.

•Approved an out-of-state travel request for the Valley Center High School band to go to Branson, Mo., April 28 through May 1, 2016.

•Approved an out-of-state travel request for FBLA students — Mason Ashcraft, Myles Carter, Alex Chen and Morgan McDonald — and teacher Cody Lee to attend the national event June 27 through July 3 in Chicago.

•Approved the acceptance of a donation of art resource books and magazines.

•Approved the acceptance of a donation of $1,500 for emergency go-to bags from Kansas Safe and Prepared Schools.

•Approved the disposal of unused textbooks and resources.

•Heard an annual review of The Learning Center from director P.J. Reilly. In 2015, 103 students were enrolled (20 in grades seven through 12), 100 completed classes and 21 graduated.

•Heard a review of assessment data from Rebecca Khosravipour, director of student learning. She said the district is making "incredible" progress toward its goal of having 80 percent of students in each grade level reach benchmarks on all benchmarks with AIMSweb tests.

•Heard a report on student growth measures used in teacher evaluations by Mike Bonner, assistant superintendent. As part of the state's waiver of No Child Left Behind requirements, the district must use student performance as part of personnel evaluations starting in 2017-18.

•Approved a proposal to offer a telemedicine program to all district employees. For $6.75 per month per family, employees can contact doctors by telephone for minor illnesses that could require prescription medications.

•Approved changes to the personnel handbook for classified employees.

•Approved revisions to curriculum maps.

•Approved revisions to grade cards for kindergarten through third-grade students.

•Approved property, fleet and workers compensation bids totaling $293,977 in premiums for 2015-16. The cost is up by about $17,000 from 2014-15, a reflection of the increase in the number of workers compensation claims.

•Approved a contract with BSN Sports to purchase athletic uniforms and equipment. The contract gives the district $32,500 worth of free products if it spends at least $50,000 on purchases over the next four years.

•Approved a service agreement with Mid-America Orthopedics to provide athletic training services at home varsity sports events for $24,000 per year. Mid-America will replace Kansas Orthopedic Center, whose bid was $2,000 higher than Mid-America.

•Met in executive session for 25 minutes to discuss personnel and contract negotiations.

•Accepted a supplemental contract resignation from Chris Edwards (middle school girls' tennis coach, May 22).

•Approved supplemental contracts for Jon Graham (driver's education, $5,933, summer 2015), Matt Archer (driver's education, $4,944, summer 2015), Larry Hargrove (driver's education, $4,944, summer 2015), Brianna Reyes (summer school district, $3,090, summer 2015), Trish McFarland (summer school site coordinator, $2,575, summer 2015), Abby Norton (Kindergarten Carousel teacher, $1,813, summer 2015), Keri Lehr (Jump Start kindergarten teacher, $1,813, summer 2015), Chanel Switzer (reading teacher first and second grades, $1,813, summer 2015), Sara Penner (reading teacher third through fifth grades, $1,813, summer 2015), Joann Owens (math teacher first and second grades, $1,813, summer 2015), Karen Spring (math teacher third through fifth grades, $1,813, summer 2015), Josh Lee (math and reading teacher, sixth through eighth grades, $1,813, summer 2015), Todd Larkey (art teacher, $1,813, summer 2015), Whitney Smith (science teacher, $1,813, summer 2015), Kelsey Bloss (cooking teacher, $1,813, summer 2015), Lindsay Koehn (technology teacher, $1,813, summer 2015), Aaron Tschetter (drama teacher, $1,813, summer 2015), Michelle Lange (high school summer school teacher, $3080, summer 2015), Amanda Leighton (high school summer school teacher, $3,080, summer 2015), Caleb Smith (summer weights coordinator, $2,138, summer 2015; and additional teaching hour, $5,921, Aug. 13), Jeff Sells (summer weights assistant, $1,361, summer 2015), Nick Barnes (summer weights assistant, $1,361, summer 2015) and Steen Danielsen (summer weights assistant, $1,361, summer 2015).

•Approved the hiring of Delta Dunfee (custodian at the high school, $10.55 per hour, May 18), Drenda Higgins (second-grade teacher at West, $53,071, Aug. 6), Kelsey Smith (half-time Spanish teacher at the high school, $20,806, Aug. 6) and Elizabeth Moseley (math teacher at the high school, $40,485, Aug. 6).

•Approved resignations from Dorla Russell (at-risk aide at West, retirement, May 21), Ben Martin (custodian at Wheatland and The Learning Center, June 12), Kristi Smith (bus driver, June 2) and Bonnie Johnson (math teacher at the high school, retirement, May 22).

•Approved transfers for Jennifer Shockley (from health aide to registered nurse, $42,625, Aug. 10), John Dobson (from 10 month- to 12-month computer support technician, $13.40 per hour, June 1), Cara Weishaar (from at-risk aide at Wheatland to at-risk aide at Abilene, $8.40 per hour, Aug. 13), Angie Cox (from at-risk aide at the high school to at-risk aide at Wheatland, $9.68 per hour, Aug. 13) and Tracy Omo (from at-risk aide at the intermediate school to at-risk aide at Abilene, $11.40 per hour, Aug. 13).

•Was reminded of a special board meeting at 7 p.m. June 29 to finish the fiscal year.

Non-teaching salary recommendations for 2015-16

Cory Gibson, superintendent, $140,975; Mike Bonner, assistant superintendent, $110,815; Jamie Lewis, high school principal, $101,663; Kent Hipp, middle school principal, $89,627; Greg Lehr, intermediate school principal, $81,254; Mark Hoy, Abilene Elementary principal, $80,725; Pete Bastian, West Elementary principal, $82,462; Adelyn Soellner, Wheatland Elementary principal, $79,850; Greg Mittman, high school assistant principal, $80,045; Sally Nold, high school assistant principal, $80,045; Ron Barry, high school assistant principal, athletic director, $80,045; Jamie Wetig, middle school assistant principal, athletic director, $79,558; P.J. Reilly, director of Career and College Readiness and The Learning Center, $74,816; Rebecca Khosravipour, director of learning, $73,127; Susan Harris, director of finance, $71,431; Dan Gentry, director of maintenance and grounds, $57,257; Molly Rainey, director of food service, $54,524; Gary Kerr, director of transportation, $62,324; Josh Huffman, director of technology, $73,180; Adam Kurimski, systems administrator, $51,226; Cameron Shipley, network administrator, $51,226; Leslie Bolte, school nurse, $45,365; Andrea Boone, school nurse, $46,165; Jami Dessenberger, school nurse, $45,880; and Jennifer Shockley, school nurse, $42,625.

Fee increases (full pay students)

2014-15 2015-16

Technology use (first through 12th) $10 $15

All-day kindergarten $600 $700

First-sixth enrollment $50 $60

Middle school enrollment $70 $80

High school enrollment $95 $105

High school band uniform $15 $10

IS, MS, HS instrument rental $35 $20/month

The middle school and high school athletic fee changed as well. Students will be charged $65 (the same as 2014-15) and an additional $10 for each additional sport up to a maximum of $90 per student.

Meal prices

2014-15 2015-16

Elementary breakfast $1.35 $1.40

Elementary lunch $2.35 $2.45

IS/MS breakfast $1.40 $1.45

IS/MS lunch $2.45 $2.55

HS breakfast $1.40 $1.50

HS lunch $2.55 $2.65

Adult breakfast $2.00 $2.05

Adult lunch $3.40 $3.50