W-F School Board to consider compensation
A 1 percent raise is being recommended for most employees in the Weyauwega-Fremont School District. The School Board will vote on wages and salaries for the non-union support staff and the administrative staff at its meeting. That meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 25, in the middle school library. "The support staff chose to de-certify (last year) so the board will bring forth a recommendation for wages," District Administrator Scott Bleck said during the board’s June 11 Committee of the Whole meeting. He said a 1 percent increase for the support staff hourly employees will result in a 5 cent increase in their hourly wages. It also being recommended that this group of employees receive a 5 cent increase for years of longevity. Of the recommendation, Board President Neal Loehrke said, "I’d wait for the teachers to be done." Historically, the board has negotiated with the teachers before setting any wage increases for the school district’s other groups of employees. Bleck said, "We haven’t set a date with the teachers." A year ago, the board approved a contract extension with the teachers. That contract extension, which runs through June 30, froze their salaries. Board member Doug Ehrenberg said a lot has changed in the last year. "I say get it done, and get the administration done," he said. With a 1 percent increase also recommended for the non-union supervisory and non-union support staff salaries, Sandra Zartner said, "I am making less money now than I did four years ago. Zartner, the district’s confidential assistant, said that for her, a 1 percent raise would equate to $270. "And then you tell us we have to pay $2,000 more for deductibles. It’s just not right," she said, referring to the board’s vote last month to increase the health insurance deductibles. On July 1, the deductibles will go from $250 and $500 respectively for those on the single and family plans to $1,000 and $2,000 respectively for the single and family plans. In regard to the proposed wage increases, Bleck said, "I wish we could give a recommendation to the cost of living or CPI, but then we wouldn’t have a balanced budget." The recommendation is within the district’s budget. Several board members said perhaps the district should divide the projected increase equally among the employees. Business Manager Brian Adesso said if that was done, it would be an additional $305 for each of the non-union supervisory and non-union support staff employees. A 1 percent increase is also recommended for the district’s administrative staff. The one exception would be Bleck’s salary, which he said would remain frozen at its current level. Loehrke said that is a gesture that the other administrators should also make. Bleck disagreed, saying, "The group should not be discredited for the income they make or their title because of the investment they made to get there." Ehrenberg said the administrators should get a 1 percent increase. "it is less than what they should be getting," he said. Bleck said the 1 percent increase could also be calculated individually or divided equally among the administrators.
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2 Comments for "W-F School Board to consider compensation"
JustBecause Jun 13, 2012 9:58 AM
JustBecause Jun 13, 2012 10:08 AM