By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board Monday night approved pay raises for teachers, classified staff, administrators and substitute teachers.
The board approved the teachers' contract, which includes the addition of $1,825 to all teachers' base pay as well as vertical and horizontal movement on the salary schedule. These raises constitute an increase of about 4.35 percent.
In addition, the contract includes longevity bonuses of $1,800 for teachers who are with the district 25 years or more and $2,100 for teachers who have been employed with the district for 30 years or more.
"We are in a position to reward employees this year at all levels," Superintendent Ron Wilson said. "We have made recommendations at all levels that we think are fair."
Administrators also received a straight 4.35 percent increase in their salaries. The board has traditionally given administrators the same percentage raise as has been negotiated in the teachers' contract.
Board member Curt Vajnar said he favored a flat fee increase for administrators.
Because the administrators are making more to start, 4.35 percent equals $4,000 to $7,000 in raises, he said.
Board member Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp suggested the board approve the raises but further discuss a change in the way the district gives administrators raises at the upcoming board retreat in August.
Board member Allen Park objected to the administration pay raises, although he voted in favor of the raises for all other staff.
Park, who is a former district principal, said he did not think the board had done its due diligence in reviewing administrative costs.
He said the district was giving the administrators a "blank check."
Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent of business services, said all of the administrators were receiving the same 4.35 percent raise.
Board member Tammy Wellbrock objected to Park's portrayal of district administrators.
"I don't think we keep good administrators when we have conservations that imply that they don't do their jobs, which you have often," Wellbrock said referring to Park. "I don't think we keep good administrators when we don't pay them accordingly."
Board president Craig Pallister, who is also a former district principal, said pay raises help to retain experienced, quality administrators.
"We should be saying, 'We're glad you're here,' and that is represented by a pay raise ... It is hard to hear every year people on this board say that administrators shouldn't be getting that much pay," he said.
The administrators' pay raises were approved on a vote of 6-1, with Park voting against the measure.
Classified staff will receive a 7 percent raise.
"Our classified staff move the engine as much as classroom teachers and administrators," Wilson said. "They are valuable, and that is why we are recommending the 7 percent increase."
Hipp said the district still has classified positions open for the fall, and he hopes the raise will help recruit people to fill those vacancies.
With the raise, the starting classified staff wage will be $13.06 per hour.
Wellbrock said the district is competing against other school districts for certified staff but has to compete against other businesses in Ellis County for classified staff, such as paraprofessionals and janitors.
The board also voted to increase the daily rate for substitute teachers.
Below are the new rates:
Consecutive days in the assignment, rate per day for 2021-22 and 2023-2024
Long-term substitute rate 45 days + — $220 increased to $245
Extended substitute rate 16-44 days —$170 increased to $185
Daily substitute rate 0-15 days — $110 increased to $125
Hipp said although the district has a competitive pay rate for substitute teachers, it is still struggling to find qualified substitutes.
All of the raises will take effect at the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1.
Bond work
Work on additions and renovations at Roosevelt Elementary School are underway.
The design for the new Hays High School is complete. Construction bids are out, and ground should be broken on that project by Labor Day, Wilson said.
He said work on O'Loughlin Elementary School is in the schematic phase.
Wilson also recognized the Hays nutrition staff, which has been working hard to provide food through the summer meal program. The program is serving an average of 810 meals per day, Mondays through Thursdays.
Wilson congratulated Dan Balman, video productions instructor, on his retirement.