Trenton R-9 School District certified staff are receiving more than they asked for in their 2008-2009 salary schedule, following action taken on Tuesday night by the R-9 Board of Education.
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On a vote of 6-0, the board approved five recommendations for next year’s certified salary schedule, including an $800 increase to the base that will result in a 3 percent pay increase for teachers. In addition, the board agreed to add two steps to each of the columns in the salary schedule except for the last column (master’s degree plus 36 hours), which will have one step added. A requirement that teachers obtain at least six additional hours every five years to move vertically on the schedule was also lifted.
A committee last month had requested a $750 increase on the base schedule as well as the additional steps and the elimination of the required hours to move vertically on the schedule. With the increase approved by the board, a first-year teacher in the R-9 School District will receive $26,300.
Although not requested by the committee, the board also agreed to allow teachers who come into the school district to have all of their hours of experience counted on the salary schedule rather than the 10 years maximum now allowed. Graduate hours in the field of education or subject area of the teacher would also apply to the master’s plus eight-, 16-, 24-, 30- and 36-hour levels.
The salary recommendations are estimated to cost the district $220,408 in additional funding for next year. This includes increases in retirement that will also need to be paid.
During an executive session, the board also approved salaries for administrators, who were rehired last month. Superintendent Becky Albrecht, who had her contract extended in January, will receive $87,000. Other salaries include Director of Supportive Services Dennis Gutshall, $67,750; THS Principal Dan Wiebers, $67,350; THS Assistant Principal Jon Adwell, $52,860; Director of Activities/Athletic Director Kris Ockenfels, $52,000; TMS Principal Jamie Oram, $61,570; Director of Special Services Marcia Gutshall, $54,087; Rissler Elementary Principal Jennie Boon, $57,450; and Director of Educational Services Barb Cox, $48,077.
The board accepted resignations from seven staff members, including five teachers. Ag instructor Steven Rogers will be leaving at the end of the school year to take a job with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as northwest district ag education supervisor and executive secretary of the Missouri FFA. Also resigning were high school choir director George Brundage, high school counselor Connie Smith, elementary counselor Lendy Donoho, first grade teacher Mary Higgins and elementary custodian Sharon O’Banion. Ann Constant resigned as the girls golf coach.
The board rehired all other teachers except those resigning during the open session. Coaches and sponsors rehired include high school football, Wes Croy, Jon Adwell, Chris Parks, Mike Tipton and David Sager; middle school football, Greg Dalrymple and Rich Griffith; girls tennis, Mike Bosley; high school girls volleyball, Taya Ray and Ruby Walker; middle school girls volleyball, Mary Hale; high school boys basketball, Jeremy Austin, Adam Clark and Rich Griffith; middle school boys basketball, Greg Dalrymple and Mike Bosley; high school girls basketball, Quentin Albrecht and Casey Beavers; middle school girls basketball, Kim Witten; and high school and middle school wrestling, Bill Hill.
New hires include Leslie Woodard, elementary counselor; Laura Greer, elementary instructor; and Shawn Owen, evening custodian.
Grant applications were approved for funds that would be used for the First and Goal project to renovate C.F. Russell Stadium. A $15,000 grant is being sought through the Hamburger Helper™ Community Program while another $10,000 will be sought from the Green Family Foundation. Mrs. Albrecht reported over $260,000 has been raised for the project thus far, including over $50,000 from alumni in 27 states. Gutshall said specifications for the project are currently being written, with work being done over the summer months. It is hoped to have the project completed by the first football game this fall.
Gutshall also reported that proposals for the energy conservation project are due on March 26, with two companies expected to submit proposals. Once they are reviewed, the companies are to be interviewed and a recommendation is to be made to the board at the April meeting. It is hoped a contract can be signed at the May meeting, with work to get under way once classes are done in May.
TMS instructor Pam Bowden presented information concerning efforts to implement a recycling program at the middle school. She said the program will start in the sixth grade, with other grades at the middle school to be added through the remainder of the school year. The group will start with collecting paper products for recycling. It is hoped that next year the program can be expanded to include the elementary and high school buildings.
In other business, the board:
• set tuition at $6,117 for next year, which is what the state has determined to be the amount it takes to education a child in the R-9 District. The current tuition is $5,900.
• approved changing a policy regarding attendance to a procedure and placing it in the procedure manual.
• received information on the MASA spring conference, where Mrs. Albrecht will be recognized as the Northwest District New Superintendent of the Year. She has also been selected as one of two nominees from Missouri for a national FCCLA administrator award.
• was told MAP testing would begin in April.
• received information on evaluations of vocational programs at the high school.
• reviewed principal reports.
• recognized Austin Waddle for his participation in the regional spelling bee, where he placed fifth and was the last fifth grader to be eliminated from the competition.
• heard from yearbook students Lindsey Dustman and Andie Vandevender about work on the 2007-2008 yearbook.