Bids for a new district office were accepted and the president of the Trenton Teachers Association addressed board members during the Trenton R-9 Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night at the district office.
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Bids for a new district office were accepted and the president of the Trenton Teachers Association addressed board members during the Trenton R-9 Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night at the district office.
A bid of $124,780 was accepted from Joe DeVorss Construction of Trenton to build a structure that will house the district office. It was the lowest of two bids received for the project, which will be constructed on property the school district owns just west of the high school tennis courts. It was noted that the bid includes a $950 add on for higher grade windows as well as a $400 add on for an architect-stamped design of the structure, which is required by the city under its building code.
The 40-foot by 60-foot building will house a reception area, a board room, three offices, a mail room, a copy room, a mechanical room, storage and two bathrooms. There will be separate entrances at the front into the reception area and into the board room.
Director of Supportive Services George Moore said it is hoped a contract can be signed by the end of the month and the contractor will have 90 days from that time to complete the project.
Moore explained that the school district currently pays $500 per month to rent its current location and that the rent will be going up to $750 per month at the end of the district?s agreement with the city, which owns the building. Based on those numbers, Moore said the building could pay for itself in a little less than 14 years, adding that utility costs should also see a decrease because of better efficiency in the new facility.
The vote to approve the bid was 6-0, with Don Sager abstaining. Sager Construction and Concrete had given the other bid on the project at $128,400.
The board heard a presentation from TTA president Tom Powell, asking that the board reconsider the salary of teachers whom the organization believes are being ?penalized? on the salary scheduled adopted last month. Powell said the TTA believes there are discrepancies in the new salary schedule, stating some of the district?s most experienced teachers are receiving a salary increase less than 6 percent while some are receiving ?considerably less? than 6 percent, including the one year movement down the schedule. At the same time, Powell said many less experienced teachers with less education are receiving increases of 8 to 13.5 percent for the same one-year movement down the schedule. It was noted that administrators were offered salary increases ranging from 6 to 11.6 percent.
The TTA asked the board to consider salary increases of at least 6 percent for those teachers the group feels is being penalized, suggesting at least 7 to 8 percent be considered. It was noted that because the salary schedule has not yet takeneaffect, new contracts can legally be issued with the approval of both parties. Powell concluded by stating the TTA?s Salary and Welfare Committee would meet with the board and Superintendent Craig Noah at their convenience in an effort to address the situation.
Board President Cathy McKay asked for discussion or comments concerning the presentation. After hearing none, she thanked the TTA for the information. No other action was taken.
Recognition was given to Mrs. McKay, Sager and Jim Cox for their service to the board. Mrs. McKay and Sager served on the board for nine years while Cox was a member for three years.
Following the certification of election results, the oath of office was administered to newly-elected board members Tracy Ausmus Utley, Kevin Bailey and Terry Spillman. Denise Hamilton was elected president of the board. Other officers are Cass Fuller, vice president; and Terry Blattner, treasurer. Susan Leeper, district secretary, was elected as board secretary. Mrs. Hamilton will serve as the district?s MSBA representative and Fuller will be the alternate.
The resignations of paraprofessionals Marilyn Bain and Betty Dunkin and cook Venna Hicks were accepted. Mrs. Bain will be retiring at the end of the school year.
The summer school application was accepted with Newton Learning. Summer school will take place at the S.M. Rissler Elementary School from May 31 to July 1 for students in kindergarten through ninth grade. Credit recovery courses will be offered at the high school.
The board approved a $20,000 match for a $30,000 grant being sought at the high school, which targets efforts to decrease the number of special education students who drop out of school. The grant would be paid out over a three-year period, with the match also being paid out over the same time period. Connie Olmstead noted that 18 special education students will be members of the freshmen class next year and it is hoped to get these students into an work environment that would not only prepare them for life after high school, but would keep them in school so that they can obtain their high school diploma. Noah indicated Wright Memorial Hospital has agreed to have the students work at their facility, with a transition coach to be hired with the grant to supervise the student work.
Custodial paper bids were awarded to Industrial Maintenance Service, Hillyard and Anna Marie?s.
Recognized as the THS Students of the Quarter were freshman Scott Stevens, sophomore Destiny Silvers, junior Katie Simpson and senior Tabitha Axtell.
During an executive session, several individuals were hired to fill positions for the next school year. New teachers at Rissler Elementary School include Tina Herring, gifted program; and Elizabeth McKinley, counselor. A third grade teacher was also hired, with the name to be released pending her release from a current contract. Renee Buescher was hired as the art/library paraprofessional at the Rissler School.
New teachers at the high school include Mike Tipton, social studies; Aaron Star, science; Steven Rogers, agriculture; Greg Buescher, physical education; and John Cowling, at-risk. Buescher will be the new boys varsity basketball coach and girls varsity softball coach while Tipton will be the assistant varsity football coach and middle school basketball coach. Cowling will also serve as middle school assistant softball coach.
All cooks and custodians were re-employed for next year as were all special education paraprofessionals and district office, middle school and high school non-certified staff. Troy Crawford was hired as junior high school sponsor and Marilyn Bain was hired as a part-time special education paraprofessional/secretary for next year.
Summer school employees were also hired with Kathy Nolke and Becky Albrecht as co-administrators. Teachers in grades kindergarten through eight are Susan Provance, Bev Speck, April Hatfield, Debbie Young, Pam Bowden, Carolyn Schmidt, Julie Simpson, Gene Schelker, Michelle McClintick, Connie Olmstead, Jane Cooksey, Babe Roy, Troy Crawford, Penny Tolle, Jackie Hoffman, Martha Brinkley and Greg Buescher. Non-certified staff include Kim Holloway and Susie Vandevender, paraprofessionals; Lisa Schilling, nurse; Kelli Beavers, secretary; and Becky Gross, Shirley King, Kim Sampson and Beth Gross, cooks. High school summer school teachers will be Davina Gilham and Connie Smith.