Teachers voice opposition to a salary freeze
Linda Bettinger — Greenville elementary teacher of the year. (Dave South)
Teachers want the school district to keep “steps and lane” salary increases. This is the message five teachers gave the school board Thursday evening. Ilene Davies, president of the Cache Education Association, told the board that steps and lanes are a priority to CEA members. “This practice will help teachers feel like they can go into the profession,” said Davies. “If we do not fund them, we will lose the best and the brightest.”
Steps and Lanes are part of a salary schedule for teachers and other employees of the district. Step increases are given for the first 15 years of employment then on the 20th, 25th and 28th years. Steps are intended to reward seniority and keep experienced teachers in the district. Lanes are salary increases given for continuing education and improvement by the teacher. For example, a teacher with a bachelors degree who earns a masters degree will receive a “lane” increase.
The school district is facing a budget shortfall of up to $4.7 million. The step and lane increases for next year will cost the district $1,130,725. Some districts in Utah have frozen wages while some have not. Superintendent Steven Norton says the Cache School District receives most of its money from state funds and not local taxes. With the legislature tightening its belt, districts across the state are having money troubles. It is reported that the Davis School District may have to cut as much as $30 million from next year’s budget.
Creating a county sales tax, shortening the school year, assessing recreation fees are a few suggestions made to the board by the teachers. White Pine middle school teacher, Rob Stewart, had an additional suggestion. If the district must freeze steps and lanes, he strongly suggested they look at the highest teacher salary and make that the cap for all employees and — especially — the administration.
The district will post a draft copy of the budget on the district website by June 1. The board will meet in a study session on June 3 and then adopt the final budget on June 15.
Teachers honored
Teacher and Employee of the Year awards were handed out during the board meeting.
Teachers of the Year
- Greenville – Linda Bettinger
- Lewiston – Jan Tingey
- North Park – Jodi Mangum
- Park – Dwight James
- River Heights – Maria Houston
- Sunrise – Kris Miller
- Summit – Christyn Kendrick
Classified Employees of the Year
- Custodian – Stan Atkinson
- Cook – Linda Hansen
- Para Pro. – Rosie Johnson
- Secretary – Shirley Reeder
- Transportation – Chris Hodges
Huntsman award recipients
- Maria Nielsen, Millville elementary
- Larry Litizzette, Mountain Crest high school
Mountain Crest’s athletic director, Jim Crosbie, was recognized as the Utah 4A Coach of the Year. Mountain Crest principal Robert Henke talked about Crosbie’s excellent work and said he was sad to see Crosbie go. Crosbie is retiring this year. Henke also talked about the Mountain Crest boys swim team winning state.
Nibley agreement
The City of Nibley wants the district to create a meeting space in the new school in Nibley. They would loan the city $300,000 raised from revenue bonds to build the addition and add amenities the city needs. The board discussed the contract’s termination clause. The city wants the district to pay back all the loaned money in full if the contract is ever terminated by either party.
None of the board members were comfortable with this stipulation. Instead they voted to negotiate either a standard business lease or a pro-rated depreciation schedule for paying back the loan.
Rugby and handball
The board approved Sky View High School to begin a Rugby and a Handball team.
Sheriff resource officers
The board tabled a proposal from the Cache County Sheriff’s office to provide six resource officers to the district. The sheriff’s department would supply six officers to the district at the cost of two officer salaries. The board tabled the motion until they could settle the problems with the budget.