Bernie Board acts on CTA staff proposals

Noreen Hyslop photo Newly named Bernie Supt. John Boyd, at left, discusses options presented by the school district's CTA Salary Committee during Monday night's regular monthly meeting. At Boyd's left are High School Principal Scott Mercer, Elementary Principal Tommie Ellenburg and current Supt. Robin Ritchie.

Commended for their ability to work not only together, but with the current school administration and school board, members of Bernie School District's Salary Committee were granted approval for nearly all proposals that were presented by their chairperson, Michele Carmode, during last night's May meeting of the Board of Education.

Recognizing the current economic downslide, Bernie's Salary Committee, as a whole, posed a number of proposals to their governing board Monday night, including suggestions for cutbacks that would result in cost savings beginning with the 2009-10 school year. Those proposals included staging after school detention just once a week, rather than the current two-to-three times per week, thereby reducing payment to supervising teachers at $25 per hour.

Another suggested cut involved allowing teachers on staff to instruct the extra classes for which the district now pays a teacher outside the district.

"This would give our high school students more selection of courses without having to hire a full-time teacher with extra salary benefits," Carmode explained to the board.

Another proposal called for ceasing with participation at the Stoddard County Alternative school, an option that was voted down by board members.

Proceeding to the issue of teacher's salaries, Carmode, on behalf of the Bernie certified and classified staff, asked that the board consider allowing certified staff to benefit from their assigned steps on the district's salary schedule, which grants annual raises with consideration for years of service and degree of education. Ultimately, the board voted to grant the staff their annual step as requested.

"The annual step represents about $19,000," said Bernie Supt. Robin Ritchie, who served in her official role as superintendent for the final time at last night's meeting. Ritchie resigned her position last fall and will leave her post effective June 1, 2009.

An additional request of CTA's Salary Committee was to allow three bereavement days each school year, not be accumulated. The proposal designated these days to be used only upon the occasion of death within the school employee's immediate family to include step parents and step brothers and sisters. The proposal was also met with approval by the board.

Considerable discussion ensured regarding another proposal that called for a rise from the current $30 to a revised $50 for unused sick days for both certified and classified staff members. Currently, staff members are awarded $30 per day for each day over 50 that they have accumulated in unused sick days annually. In a well-received compromise, the board eventually agreed to raise the amount paid for unused sick days to $35.

One suggestion by the committee that was not approved was the proposal to provide some sort of incentive package to those school employees who have elected to not participate in the employee insurance program through the local school system. With a current cap of $325, school employees will pay a difference of $91 per month if they wish to partake in the school's health insurance program.

Carmode, speaking for the entire school staff, placed on the table a proposal to provide an alternative benefit, possibly in the form of a annuity, to those employees (currently numbering 12), who decline to partake in the district's health insurance program. The decision to decline prohibits those 12 from nearly $5000 as income each year that is figured into a formula that determines retirement benefits. The proposal, seen by Ritchie and board members as "opening a can of worms," was declined.

"While I'd love to accommodate every wish of this dedicated staff," Ritchie said, "this is just not feasible until the legislation gets a handle on insurance costs."

Board members agreed and the proposal was declined.

The board did agree to utilize potential stimulus funds, due to the district after July 1, in implementing a proposed $600 stipend for each certified staff member who attends a two-day professional development meeting during the 2009-10 school year. This amount would help circumvent the loss of an across-the board pay increase, Ritchie explained, stating, "The amount represents a two-percent raise in pay basically, which given the current economy, employees would not otherwise see."

The funds would come from stimulus funds that will total over $256,000 for Bernie Schools, with $120,000 designated as Title I state funds and an additional $136,107 as federal funds.

Sitting in on last night's meeting was MSTA Representative Renee Bates, who briefly addressed board members following the CTA's presentation.

"I work in over 40 school districts representing the certified staff and I have never worked with a more cohesive group than in Bernie Schools. I so much appreciate the way in which the staff, the board, and the administration work together on matters like this. You have an exceptional group here and I hope that continues."

Ritchie concurred with that sentiment, also congratulating the staff and members of the CTA Salary Committee for the manner in which they have pursued the goals of Bernie's teaching staff.

In other business of the board Monday night, members accepted the retirement notice of Doris Turner who has served as secretary at the elementary building for the past 30 years.

"This is one item that I present to you and wish we did not have to approve," Ritchie told the board. "Doris has been an instrumental part of our school program for a very long time, and she will be terrible missed."

Members also reviewed changes made to the district's student handbooks and approved routine program evaluations to the district's Special Services and Facilities programs. Discussion ensued regarding the feasibility of hiring a full time director of special services at some point in the future, rather than utilize two positions within the district to work part time accommodating the needs of the Special Service Program at Bernie.

"It's a plan that needs to be seriously considered in the near future," said Ritchie, "and one that most school districts have in place. There is a real need for a full time director for this program, and my hope is that this will be taken under serious consideration next year."

Plans call for Bernie High School seniors to graduate on Sunday, May 24 at 2 p.m. The district's CTA banquet to honor this year's retirees will commence this evening at the school.

In other business, the board:

* reviewed summer school plans.

* reviewed the district's and approved the SPED Assurance Statement.

* reviewed and approved the district's Career Ladder Participation Report.

* agreed to send elementary students who consistently maintained honor roll status throughout the school year to the City Museum in St. Louis on May 18.

* reviewed and approved the district's Exclusive Representation Policy.

While the May meeting marked the last official meeting for Supt. Robin Ritchie to sit in on, she will be on hand for the June meeting.

"I want the smoothest of transitions for this district," Ritchie said following Monday night's meeting, "and that courtesy was granted me when I came in to the district, so although I will not conduct matters at the June meeting, I will gladly be on hand should I be able to assist with this transitional period."