GENTRY -- Among other policy changes considered by the Gentry School Board and passed on their first readings were pay changes for teachers and support staff at the Gentry Schools.
The proposed pay raise would include a $700 across-the-board increase and a $500 step increase, meaning that each returning teacher would receive $1,200 more next year than this school year.
The increase, recommended by Gentry school district superintendent, Randy Barrett, was less than the $2,000 across-the-board increase requested by the school district's personnel policy committee.
"I would love to give our teachers the $2,000 increase," Barrett said, "but the fact is we can't afford to."
Instead, Barrett proposed the smaller increase, saying he had the extra funding available to pay for the increases because a number of teachers at higher pay levels because of their years of experience were retiring and were being replaced by quality teachers with less experience and who are at a lower level of pay.
Also recommended for an increase in pay were support staff at the schools. The increase request approved on its first reading came from the classified personnel policy committee and would pay $1,500 stipends to school personnel with certifications that are directly related to their job duties at the school. A $1,500 stipend was also requested for the school nurse supervisor because she has to be a registered nurse and has additional supervisory duties in addition to being the campus nurse.
Stipends of $1,000 for an associate's degree and $2,000 for a bachelor's degree with majors in fields directly related to current job duties was included in the recommendation.
An increase of 25 cents per hour was requested at the base-salary level for every classified position.
A $1,000 stipend for employees obtaining certificates and certifications directly related to job duties was tabled until more study is completed and more specifics can be brought to the board.
A final vote on the pay increases was to be considered at a special meeting of the school board last night after press time.
After an executive session to discuss personnel issues, the board renewed contracts for approximately 85 classified personnel; accepted the resignation of Timothy Fulks from his basketball coaching duties and Heather Romig as middle school teacher; hired Jessica Westhafer to teach high school art, Tabitha Douthit as fourth-grade teacher, Dorie DeZurik as intermediate school counselor and Justin Demieville as sixth-grade language arts and social studies teacher; approved a year-long leave of absence for Kimberly Stewart; transferred Sandy Duncan from primary school cafeteria to food services director; and transferred Patrick Lanford from high school Spanish and sociology teacher to EAST facilitator.
General News on 05/27/2015