June 05--The USD-379 school board approved nearly $100,000 in raises for district staff and almost $50,000 in salary increases for Twin Lakes Educational Cooperative staff last night.

The board approved covering an up-to-9 percent increase in premiums for Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance for all staff, which they normally don't cover. By contract, insurance premiums can increase a maximum of 9 percent.

The district is expecting a 6 to 7 percent increase because claims are up significantly.

Covering a seven-percent insurance increase amounts to $35,093 for certified staff, $16,974 for classified staff, $5,406 for administrators, and $30,135 for TLEC staff. Another 2 percent increase in the insurance premiums would add about $16,420 to cover the increase for district staff.

In addition to that, certain staff members also received an additional bump in salaries -- namely administrators and classified staff.

Classified staff received a 10-cent-an-hour bump, the same as last year, which amounts to $10,900 for district classified staff, $13,575 for TLEC para professionals, and $1,200 for other TLEC classified staff.

TLEC and board of education clerk Denise Beulter received a $2,000 a year raise and $1,000 was added to the annual salaries for CCCMS principal Keith Hoffman, Garfield Elementary principal Jaclyn Pfizenmaier, facilities director Greg Jensen and both school nurses.

These positions are "well below the average" for schools in the NCKL league, Superintendent Mike Folks said.

The school nurse positions are at or below what a starting teacher makes --$32,500, assistant superintendent Sherri Edmundson said. One nurse has worked for the district since the 1980s, she said.

The board also approved a total of $8,000 for 22 certified staff who have moved on the salary scale because of education, two of them because of doctorate degrees.

One position in the TLEC received a $500 raise. TLEC director Steve Joonas said a couple of other positions are being considered for raises, but he wanted to watch the carry-over before recommending more raises be granted. A carry over at the end of the fiscal year will cover the TLEC raises, which amounts to $48,572 with a seven-percent insurance increase.

District salary increases amounted to $98,708, with a seven percent insurance increase. Those increases will be covered by $106,000 in new monies from the new state FTE formula, Folks said.

The board also:

-- reviewed written site council reports,

-- approved 2012-13 contracts for district and TLEC classified staff, bus drivers, extended contract days, and co-curricular activities.

-- set the July board meeting for July 2.

-- approved district crisis plan updates for 2012-2013. The most significant changes were putting back in language on how to handle a student death or suicide, which was deleted in 2004-05; and updating the tornado plan for when staff are in the building on days when school is not in session.

-- approved minor changes in language for the classified handbook for 2012-2013.

-- approved an increase in adult lunches from $3.10 to $3.15 and adult breakfasts from $1.45 to $1.55, to be in line with the state's reimbursable rate.

-- approved increases in student insurance and workman's compensation with KASB.

-- approved a one-time iPad fee of $25 per student, which cannot be waived. There were other increases in fees for classes or other building fees.

-- approved policies for iPads and Nooks.

-- allowed the addition of a wall and door in the CCCHS ITV/business room.

-- agreed to change graduation requirements to allow other computer/technology classes to count toward the "computer applications" requirement.

-- reviewed the E-Learn handbook and policy manual.

-- set a special meeting at 8 p.m.June 11 for either an oral or written presentation on the bid for the Wakefield gym air-conditioning.

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(c)2012 the Clay Center Dispatch (Clay Center, Kan.)

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