Board tables salary decision

PLYMOUTH – Although a dual item on the School Board’s Tuesday, June 15 meeting agenda concerned a decision on the salaries of school district administrators and non-represented employees for 2010-11, the board voted unanimously to table the vote until next month.

Their decision was based upon the fact that Board President Mark Rhyan and Board Vice President Tim St. Clair were absent from Tuesday’s meeting. Their fellow board members said they wanted to have Rhyan and St. Clair’s input before voting.

District administrators include office administrators, principals, directors and coordinators. Nonrepresented employees are district office clerical staff, technicians, nurses and interpreters.

Despite tabling the decision regarding salary increases, board members held a discussion regarding salaries for these employees. Board member Sally Isely addressed those administrators and non-represented employees present.

“I missed the Committee of the Whole meeting,” she said. “I think there was a discussion about keeping the salaries where they have been.

“We know you work hard,” Isely affirmed. “But where we are now with our budget and where we will be the following year is not pretty financially.”

Board member Jerry Prahl said he is leaning towards voting for a salary freeze. “Jobs at this time are unavailable,” he added. “Everybody is taking a hit.

“I appreciate what you people have done and the effort and time you have put in,” he noted. “But I have to vote for a freeze because of the situation. At least we have jobs.”

Sue Feick, another board member, noted that a discussion regarding these salaries had been held at the Committee of the Whole meeting.

“I have become aware of the breadth of what the administration does, and I’m aware of the countless hours you put in, and I want to reward you,” she said.

“At the same time, the most I can say is a heartfelt ‘thank you’ from the board and the community,” Feick said. “With all the other concessions we are looking at, I feel part of it is that we all work together. This is a very difficult and emotional decision.

“I want the public to know this is something we discussed at length,” Feick noted. “We all recognize a strong district needs strong leaders at the top. We all recognize what strong leaders you are, and we value that as a board.”

Board member John Klemme provided his input. “This is gut-wrenching for each of us to have to continue a freeze,” he said. “No one feels good about this.”

“I agree with Sue, Jerry, Sally and John,” said board member Pam Holzhaeuser. “It’s not easy to say a zero percent raise. You are very deserving. The job you do is phenomenal.

“I also look at the real world,” Holzhaeuser added. “We all know someone who is laid off or who has had no raise or has a salary decrease.

“Things are hopefully turning around,” she said. “We can’t give a salary raise now. The money is not there.”

Prahl then suggested tabling the vote until the next meeting, and the board voted to do so.

In other business Tuesday, Carrie Dassow, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, provided information from the June 2 meeting of the Graduation Requirements Subcommittee.

She noted that Plymouth High School math teacher Darren Munson, a subcommittee member, had attended a math conference.

“He informed us that most college professors say that a strong algebra and trig background are important for college students,” Dassow said. “Many high school students don’t take the calculus course in their senior year and have a year off without math, before entering college.”

She recommended the subcommittee look into increasing the math offerings for seniors – for example, with a course such as probabilities and statistics.

Dassow noted that the subcommittee has completed work on an alumni survey, regarding graduation requirements and that board members will have the opportunity to preview that survey and other surveys the subcommittee is compiling, before they are sent out.

The subcommittee will also prepare surveys for parents and for business executives.