By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school board approved raises for teachers, as well as classified staff, directors and administrators during a special meeting Thursday.
The board approved a contract with the teachers' union that adds $1,200 to each cell of the salary schedule and allows for vertical and horizontal movement on the schedule. This equals about a 3.35 percent raise.
"I want to thank the negotiating team of the teachers. From what I have heard, they were working for the best of the district," board member Craig Pallister said.
He also thanked the negotiating team for the board.
"I felt that through everything that was relayed to me that it was very positive and everything worked in the positive direction of the district," he said.
The board also approved a 3.35 percent raise for classified staff, directors and administrators.
In addition, the board approved salary increases in addition to the 3.35 percent raise for Shanna Dinkel, assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, and Shaunna Zwiefel, Hays Middle School assistant principal, based on their years of experience.
Board member Allen Park was the lone vote against the amendment that allowed the additional salary increases for Dinkel and Zwiefel. He said he thought all administrators should receive the same raises.
Board members Nuchelle Chance and Lance Bickle were not present at the meeting.
The teachers already approved their contract on a vote of 159-0.
The teachers' contract contained other provisions including:
- One contract day has been added. $300 will be added to each cell of the salary schedule as compensation for this added day.
- 0.5 percent will be added to each supplemental salary non-athletics and athletics supplemental schedule.
- The curriculum work hourly rate will increase from $15 to $22.50.
- Teachers who serve on Building Leadership Teams will receive a stipend of $340.
- An early retirement/resignation bonus will be awarded to teachers who submit their resignations as follows: On or before Dec. 1 — $1,000. On or before Jan. 1 — $500
- A spring parent-teacher conference day has been added to the contract for the standard contract duty year.
- Changes were made to school nurse extended contracts.
- When making changes to the master contract, both a representative from the Hays Teacher's Association and a representative from the Hays school board will arrange and type the agreements together. Both parties will review the document before signatures are added.
- Change to sick leave contract language so that all sick leave will be granted on the first day of a continuing contract. If a staff member is on paid leave or FMLA protected leave status, all sick leave will be awarded without proration.
- Adding six early release days to the contract, which will eliminate the need to vote on approving these each year.
- In cases of termination or non-renewal of a teacher contract, teachers will be able to have a representative present with them during an executive session if they choose to respond to the school board.
The board also approved a revised school calendar to designate April 18 as Spring Parent Teacher Conference day.