Cape Girardeau School Board approves employee pay increase

The Cape Girardeau School Board approved an average 2.5-percent across-the-board pay increase for its employees during a special meeting Wednesday night.

Approval of salary schedules -- for everyone from administrators to custodians and stipends for those who take on extra duties -- is a prelude to consideration of the budget, which is expected to be on the board's June 23 agenda.

The district has 638 employees, 409 of which are teachers, said assistant superintendent of administrative services Neil Glass.

Glass said the district's estimated budget for 2014-2015 is for $51 million, up slightly from 2013-2014's roughly $50,800,000 budget.

The uptick for 20014-2015 is thanks to an expected 3-percent increase in assessed property valuations and an estimated 4-percent increase in state aid. Conservatively, Glass said, the district is looking at $500,000 to $600,000 in new money.

Personnel and benefits make up the majority of the district's expenses.

Glass said he has allowed for a 5-percent increase for health coverage.

"We're looking real good," he said. "I've talked to our insurance broker and our rates are holding fairly steady. We anticipate a good renewal rate for next year."

The average base salary for a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree will be $32,000 a year for 2014-2015. During the past three years, the district has been trying to transition from a frozen teacher salary schedule to a new one.

Glass said there are still 122 employees on the frozen schedule. An additional 12 moved onto the new schedule and 12 to 15 retired, mostly from the frozen portion.

Board member Don Call had asked for salary information from other area districts and wanted to bring central office personnel more into line with the district's peers. Call added it might cause some hard feelings, but he felt it needs to be done.

Superintendent Jim Welker said it was difficult for central office personnel to propose raises since they develop the salary schedules.

Tony Smee, board member, said he thinks it's a good discussion to have, but he'd like to have more salaries to compare.

"We also know our teaching staff isn't where it should be. We need to get that fixed," Welker said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO