All school support personnel at Greene County Schools will receive raises of approximately 30 cents an hour. The school board approved the raises at the Sept. 11 regular meeting, with the funds appropriated in House File 2612 during the 2024 legislative session.
HF 2612 is the much-discussed bill that included changes to Area Education Agencies and setting minimum teacher salaries. It included additional funding for educational support personnel, which includes paraeducators (associates), cooks, bus monitors, and custodians. According to school superintendent Brett Abbotts, the district received about $29,000 to distribute among 75 staff members. He cautioned the board that it is one-time funding.
“There is no requirement that we must bring everyone to $15 an hour. That’s not what this bill was intended for,” Abbotts said.
Abbotts recommended the hourly raise after learning how about 25 other districts are using their funds. Some districts used the money for one-time bonuses, but the majority increased hourly wages.
After a question from board member Tim Riphagen, Abbotts confirmed that in using one-time money for an hourly wage increase, the board would need to add the expense into future year budgets.
Board member Cindy Daubendiek asked if the district could afford adding that amount to next year’s budget. Abbotts answered that the district has three fewer teachers this year than last, at a savings of $60-$65,000 per position. He also noted that paraeducator wages have increased close to $3/hour over the past three years.
The board agreed by consensus to approve the wage increase. Abbotts said no motion was needed, as the agenda item referred to “consideration” of how to use the funds, not “approval.”
Staff will see the increase in their October paychecks.
The board reviewed a list of eight legislative resolutions proposed by the Iowa Association of School Board and selected five as priorities for the next legislative session. Five of the eight were selected, including literacy; student, educator, and staff mental health needs; adequate supplemental state aid; and a high-quality teacher workforce.
Board president Bonnie Silbaugh was appointed as the delegate to the IASB Assembly held in November, prior to the IASB annual convention.
The board discussed strategic priorities as developed by the district leadership team (administrators, director of special services, and building teacher coaches) The priorities will remain academic excellence, effective staff, resource management, and community relations, all in a collaborative culture. After a 10 minute discussion of whether “Collaborative Culture” should appear at the bottom of the graphic, as in the draft, or at the top, the board tabled action until a future meeting.
The board also tabled until a later meeting a proposal from DLR Group to do 3D scanning of the district’s buildings. Cost would be $28,500. Board members want more information about the benefit to the district of having the work done.
The board approved the 2022-23 financial audit report; the 2023-2024 treasurer’s report; and the 2023-2024 certified annual report, special education supplement, and annual transportation report.
