Centre school board approves 3.5% pay raise for classified staff
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
After a 15-minute executive session at its July 10 meeting, Centre Board of Education approved a 3.5 percent wage increase for classified staff for 2006-2007, excluding those who previously were issued contracts for the year.
Custodian Martin Combs' increase is contingent upon his receiving waste management operator certification.
The board set substitute teacher pay at $75 for a whole day and $40 for a half day. After five days of continuous service in the same classroom, the daily rate will increase to $80, and after 20 days payment will be 1/188th of the base salary, retroactive to the first day of service.
The board also authorized preparation of a 2006-07 budget comparable to the previous year, including the state-mandated 20 mills to support the general fund and four mills for capital outlay.
The proposed budget will be published in the Marion County Record at least 10 days before a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Centre High School library.
Superintendent Bob Kiblinger said the date may change pending passage of a school finance bill.
Other business was mainly routine.
Clark Davis was re-elected as president of the board, and Jennifer Kassebaum was elected vice president.
Numerous official appointments were approved including Peggy Falen, clerk of the board; Dawn Luna, deputy clerk; Francie Mueller, district treasurer; and Sheri Stahlecker, district petty cash fund treasurer.
The board also voted to conduct regular board meetings the second Monday of every month, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Centre High School library, unless otherwise designated.
They designated the Marion County Record as the official district newspaper for the 2006-07 school year, Pilsen State Bank and Tampa State Bank as official depositories, and John Klenda as legal counsel.
They also adopted teacher, staff, and CES student handbooks, set the cost per copy of open records at 20 cents per page, and set mileage reimbursement rate at the state approved rate of 43 cents per mile.
Julie Klenda was appointed as representative to the Centre Summer Ball Association, Jennifer Kassebaum as governmental relations representative, and Leona Hajek as TEEN representative.
A 15-minute executive session which included the superintendent and board clerk was conducted to discuss negotiations with teachers.
No action was taken when the meeting reopened.
Including payables and encumbrances, the treasurer's report showed an ending cash balance on June 30 of $701,963.11. Almost 78 percent of the general and supplemental fund balances had been spent.
Architect Mike Carson of Bowman Bowman Novick, Inc., presented an update on the science room remodeling project. A revised timeline includes painting this week, ceiling installation next week, and floor finishing the following week. An accordion wall between the science lab and science classroom is slated to be installed Aug. 14. Lab tables will not be installed until sometime during the first two full weeks in September.
Kiblinger and the board conducted a review of goals for the district as determined earlier by the board.
Kiblinger recommended that, due to the science remodeling project, present and future personnel changes, enrollment fluctuations and finances, consideration of relocating the K-4 grades to the 5-12 school site be delayed for a few years.
Kiblinger presented a list of his professional and personal goals. They include a plan to scrutinize present and future spending needs as it relates to declining enrollment, and to make necessary recommendations to the board.
