R-9 Board Offers Administrator Contracts

Administrative contracts were offered and a salary proposal from certified staff was heard during a meeting on Tuesday night of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education.
Following an executive session, the board voted to offer contracts to seven administrators, setting their salaries along with the salary of Superintendent Dan Wiebers, who was offered a contract extension last month. Contracts, along with salaries, were offered to Director of Supportive Services Kris Ockenfels, $85,273; High School Principal Ron Franklin, $79,567; Middle School Principal Daniel Gott, $70,374; Rissler Elementary School Principal Jennie Boon, $75,763; Assistant High School/Middle School Principal Kasey Bailey, $62,132; Director of Special Education Tara Hoffman, $54,524; and Assistant Rissler Elementary Principal Kayli Burrell, $57,060. The board also set Wiebers’ salary at $107,780.
All salaries are increases over what each person is receiving this current school year. Board Secretary Susan Leeper said the increases were not percentage-based, rather determined on a formula developed by the superintendent based on several factors. Increases range from $1,604 to $3,240.
Other personnel action taken following the executive session included accepting a letter of retirement from district financial secretary Mary Ritko (who has been with R-9 for 46 years), a letter of resignation from paraprofessional Nicole Franklin and employment of Shelia Polk as a paraprofessional. Employed as substitutes were Tristan Dugan, Scotlin Hurley and Chanse Houghton as teachers and Larissa Lebsack as a nurse.
Suzi Beck and Taya Ray, representing the salary and welfare committee, presented its 2018-19 salary proposal, which included two options that would benefit not only all certified staff, but one would provide additional funding to those teachers who have obtained at least a master’s degree. Mrs. Beck and Mrs. Ray, who was attending a conference and spoke with board members via video, explained each proposal, both of which would add money to the base salary, which is currently $31,200. The women noted that the R-9 District is currently just over $800 less in the average base salary than area school districts of a similar size.
Option 1 would add $500 to the base salary (making it $31,700 for a first-year teacher) as well as an additional $50 to each column of the salary schedule for individuals who have a master’s degree or higher. The $50 addition would affect 61 teachers in the district. Option 1 would cost the district $71,197.54 in salary and retirement ($61,352.52 for the $500 and $9,845.02 for the additional $50). It was noted that while many certified personnel have continued furthering their education through additional college courses, changes to the salary schedule to compensate for that cost have not been made since 2005.
Option 2 would add $650 to the base salary. The cost for that option would be $79,758.27 for salaries and retirement and would set the new base salary for the district at $31,850.
The board will be taking action on salaries at the March meeting, during which time the salary proposal for non-certified staff will be made.
The board approved the 2018-19 school calendar, which has classes starting on Aug. 22 and ending on May 15, 2019. Mrs. Boon, who headed up the calendar committee, said there are 170 actual school days next year, which is four days less that what typically appears on the calendar. However, the minimum number of hours of classroom time required by the state is much more and leaves plenty of time for late starts and early dismissals due to inclement weather and still meet the instructional requirements.
A memorandum of understanding was approved with the Grundy County Health Department, allowing use of district facilities by the health department in case of a public health emergency. Also approved were two grant applications, including a $1,000 request by E’Lisha Gass to the GEC Foundation for a “Break-Out Kit.” Travis Mullenix is seeking a $2,500 grant from the Midwest PGA to purchase golf equipment for use in physical education classes. The Booster Club has agreed to provide the $1,000 match required.
Wiebers announced that Tuesday, April 3 and Wednesday, May 16 have been scheduled as make-up days for classes missed due to inclement weather. May 16 will now be the last day of school with the final teacher work day being May 17.
Franklin presented the vocational report and noted that 233 high school students are involved in various vocational programs. There are also 26 students enrolled in the vocational-technical program, which he said is the most students since he has been at Trenton.
Wiebers announced that the district has received $2,847.45 this past quarter from Citizens Bank and Trust through its Bulldog debit card program. Since the program began in 2011, the district has received $47,542. The money is used to fund student activities that are not included in the regular school budget.
Wiebers announced that Cliff Roeder and Dr. David Whitaker are the only persons who filed for the board of education election in April by the deadline. With only two vacancies, no election will be needed.
All votes taken were unanimous by the six members present – Doug Franklin, Brandon Gibler, Corey Leeper, Martha Roberts, Brooke McAtee and Dorothy Taul. Cliff Roeder was absent.