Board nudges salaries, meals, and OKs bids

PRIEST RIVER — The West Bonner County School District board of trustees discussed the recently-completed school year and adopted its budget for the next school year here June 21.

As part of the next year’s school budget, Superintendent Paul Anselmo introduced a new administrative salary schedule, stating that he intended for the district to be in the middle or average of the state when it comes to administrative salaries.

The finance committee realized that across the board the district was lagging far behind its peers statewide, and Anselmo proposed adding $1,200 per year for five years to help the district catch up. For example, the statewide average salary for an elementary school principal is $77,000 and the district lagged behind by $9,000. Anselmo said the salary discrepancies can affect retention. Board chair Sandy Brower said that in the past school leadership voluntarily took pay cuts, and that Anselmo’s proposed bumps would help the district make up some of that lost ground. The board adopted the proposal as part of the upcoming school year’s budget. All school salary schedules are posted on the district website at: wbcsd-id.schoolloop.com. Click on the ‘Human Resources’ link at right, and click on the links at top right.

The board approved moving meal prices slightly upward, with a 10 cent increase for elementary school student meals and a 10 cent increase for junior high and high school student meals. Next fall’s elementary school student meals will cost $2.65, and meals will cost $2.90 at the junior high and high school. Adult meals remain fixed at $3.50. According to board clerk Jennifer Phillips, the state’s school meals price calculator called for a 15 cent increase in district meal prices, but the state caps each year’s increase to a dime, so the district will roll over the extra five cents to the next year and likely need to increase school meal prices by 10 cents annually, she explained.

Board member Margaret Hall inquired as to how the board could encourage greater participation by teachers in the district’s finance committee, insurance committee, and calendar committee. Anselmo, Brower, and others insisted that the responsibility for teacher participation rested on the teachers’ union. The union has a seat at each of those committee tables as part of its annually negotiated agreement with the district, but has not had a teacher present to represent the union on a regular basis at those meetings, said board members.

Cherie Coldwell, director of the 21st Century Community Learning Center at Priest River Lamanna High School, reported on the program’s newer, flexible setup. Students need to show up for the academic portion of the program, but can leave in order to attend to family and work commitments, she said. The program is being rebranded as the Agoge, which was where Spartan kids were trained in ancient Greece. She said she wanted to create a two-week academic program this summer. She also retooled the program’s mission statement to include making kids into good global citizens as a part of the program. Coldwell reported that last year there were no takers for the robotics lab, but she hoped to change that next year. Of the 153 students who registered in the program, 83 actually participated. Participation rates were slightly down from the previous year, she reported, and the lack of transportation due to lack of drivers prevented at least 12 Laclede-based students from participating. She said she is working with her Newport High School colleague to put on a STEM/STEaM fair October 9 from 6-8 p.m. and is looking for planning committee members. Those interested should contact her at CherieColdwell@sd83.org. PRLHS Principal Joseph Kren praised Coldwell’s tireless efforts to rebrand and build the program. Three seniors were able to graduate on time this year thanks to their work in credit recovery through the program, she said.

Anselmo recognized district retirees at the meeting, including:

Daun Blair, who had been with the district for 17 years as a math teacher at Priest River Lamanna High School,

Janice Blaine, special education teacher for WBCSD for 20 years,

Marilyn Stark, who spent 25 years in WBCSD teaching art, study skills, credit recovery, history, and more,

Cheryl Lartz, who served as secretary for Priest River Junior High School for 28 years,

Nancy Chappell, who gave 29 years to WBCSD driving the school bus.

City Service Valcon won the heating oil contract for the 2017-18 school year at 0.045 price over cost. The company also won the propane contract at 0.79 total price per gallon. Family Oil won the fuel contract with an 11-cent markup over price for both diesel and gasoline. The school board selected a $89,472 bid from Harlow’s for a new school bus because the $87,875 bid from Bryson’s noted many exceptions and did not meet the specifications called for in the bid request, explained Phillips. Hall said due to long-term maintenance considerations Harlow’s bid would turn out to be cheaper.