The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Board Approves Teacher's Contract

By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

Following several months of negotiations a 2 year teachers salary contract was approved at the Southern School board meeting on October 25, 2004. Salary increase includes: 1st year (2004-05) - 3.5% increase, step inclusive and 2nd year (2005-06) -3.5% increase, step inclusive. Top steps on schedule are computed by adding $500 per year over 30 years.

The contract includes single coverage insurance fully paid for the 2004-05 school year. The following year (2005-06), the school district will pay the first 12% increase with teachers paying any increase over 12%.

Other items include: sick day accumulation up to 340 days maximum; tuition reimbursement $90 per semester hour for a maximum of 9 semester hours, and annuities are available to all employees according to the current policy.

Southern School board members will host a public meeting on Wednesday, October 20th, at 7:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria regarding the consolidation issue.

The meeting was originally scheduled for September 29th, but was canceled due to the committee not being prepared. Doug Brooks said after attending a Committee of Ten meeting there was too much duplication in their agenda and they needed to take a new route.

Doug Brooks, Jon Corzatt and Dan Bowman are serving on the committee preparing the agenda.

Crystal Reighard, on behalf of the student council, requested that Union students be allowed to attend the Southern Homecoming dance. The board approved having Union students attend.

Rod Fox reported the school lots currently for sale have been turned over to three local realtors.

Principal Dale Buss reported:

• Carl Sandburg College will hold computer classes in the Southern High School Lab.
• Open house went well.
• Chris Wilson was named a Commended Student in the 2005 National Merit Scholarship Program

Principal Jeff Nichols reported:

• Girls basketball has started with 19 students participating.
• The computer lab still has problems but they are slowly being resolved.
• There are leaks in the school they are unable to locate.
• Requested to hire a tutor two days a week after school. Mr. Avery has acquired $500 and approximately $172 from the school would be needed. The board approved.
• Is attempting to get a student helper for janitor Dale Short. This would be through the Workforce Investment Office and at no cost to the district.

In other business the board:

• Approved school improvement plans as presented by the principals
• Approved the girls basketball budget in the amount of $8,701.12, an increase of $380.78 over last year.
• Approved the boy's basketball budget in the amount of $8,825.68, a decrease of $7.52 from last year.
• Heard the closing of the PreK building was on September 2nd and the check has been received.
• Approved fund raisers as presented, with the exception of JH band/ band boosters and JH boys basketball which were denied.

Following closed session the board:

• Approved one high school student out of school suspension.
• Hired Roger Shaner as 7th grade boy's basketball coach.
• Increased Dana Dutton's hours by 15 minutes daily. (She will be serving as crossing guard mornings at the school)
• Approved a 2 1/2 % salary increase for both principals.
• Approved a $3,000 stipend for administrative secretary duties for 2004-05.

Present were: Board members, Jon Corzatt, Brad Arnold, Brendan Schaley, Doug Brooks, Melissa Livermore (arriving 7:15 p.m.) and Rod Fox; Superintendent Tom Avery; Secretary Sharri Richard; Principals, Dale Buss and Jeff Nichols; Coach Jim Cole; Guests, Mark Lefler, Ciara Robinson, Terri Copeland, Connie Sue Torrance, Crystal Reighard and Sam Sudacker. Absent was board member Dan Bowman

The next regular board meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., October 25th.