Centre board approves two-year teachers' contracts
At a special meeting May 21, the Centre USD board of education approved a negotiated agreement with the Centre Teachers' Association. The action was taken after 15 minutes in executive session with the board clerk and superintendent.
The agreement covers the years 2007-08 and 2008-09 and provides for a 2 percent increase in the base pay in each of the two years.
The supplemental pay schedule reinstates a 5-12 head teacher position at a rate of 12 percent of base pay, down from 15 percent this year. The change was made due to the hiring of a second administrator.
The 2007-08 salary schedule ranges from a base pay of $30,905 to a maximum of $43,965, based on years of employment and level of education. The 2008-09 schedule increases the base pay to $31,525 and the maximum to $44,585.
The only other change in the agreement from this year regards personal leave. Two days normally are allowed, but teachers who have 12 or more accumulated sick leave days and no remaining personal leave days may exchange two sick leave days for one additional personal leave day per year.
In other action, the board accepted the resignation of Kenna Krause as kindergarten teacher and Laura Vinduska as co-sponsor of student council.
After 25 minutes in executive session to discuss personnel (15 minutes without Brent Methvin), the board voted, 5-1, to assign Lisa Beye to junior high pep club sponsor and junior high computer instructor, with commensurate compensation. Jesse Brunner cast the opposing vote.
Although not a part of the negotiated agreement, a "letter of understanding" was signed by both parties to find a workable solution to ensure a 20-minute duty-free lunch for teachers, schedule release/collaboration time for curriculum work, and explore the effects of changing the yearly health plan renewal date to Sept. 1 or Oct. 1 from the current May 1.
Jennifer Kassebaum chaired the hour-long session in the absence of chairman Clark Davis.
