JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD VIEWS SALARY PLAN

JACKSON -- Jackson teachers Tuesday asked the board of education that next year's salary schedule be unchanged from the one adopted two years ago, which would mean only modest pay hikes for most teachers.

While most teachers in the Jackson School District can still move up the district's 21-step salary schedule, the pay of 34 long-term faculty members will remain frozen at the top level for the third consecutive year.

The top salary for a teacher with a master's degree, 16 graduate hours and 21 or more years' experience is $33,013. The starting teacher salary in the district is $18,400.

The school board will consider the salary proposal at its June 9 meeting.

The proposed salary schedule was presented to the board Monday by Everett Cassady, chairman of the salary and welfare committee of the Jackson Community Teacher's Association.

Cassady said the schedule also contains no benefits proposals. He said teachers well understand the district's financial difficulties.

"I think in the 20 years that I've been in the district, I've not felt as much concern over the future funding for education as we all feel now," he said. "I think we all understand the difficulties that we face."

Cassady said the committee made the recommendation based on declining state funding for the district. "We feel like funding is there for at least the current salary schedule," he said.

Board member Darrell Hanschen commended the committee for the proposal.

"It says a lot for the staff," he said. "They realize the position we're in. We would love to be able to give raises to everybody."

Board President Jack Knowlan, Jr. expressed his frustration, and that of the board, at not being able to offer any changes in the salary schedule for the new school year. "I hope that somewhere down the road we can do something more," he said.

Superintendent Wayne Maupin also expressed his appreciation to the salary committee for their cooperation and understanding.

"I also appreciate their efforts and the fact they have not been at my jugular vein all year," he quipped.

Although the salary schedule has not changed in the past two years, teachers have been forced to pay for materials and classroom activities with their own money.

Assistant Superintendent Fred Jones recently conducted a survey that showed teachers spent more than $20,000 of their own money during the past school year for such expenses.

In a report to the board, Jones said 114 of the 200 teachers in the district spent money for materials, supplies and other expenses directly relating to their duties as classroom teachers.

"This is an approximate average of $208 per teacher," he said. "Of the 114 teachers who responded to our survey, 43 teachers had out-of-pocket expenses ranging from $200 to $1,000, and several of them had out-of-pocket expenses over $1,000.

"I think it is a testament to the professionalism of our staff that we have this amount of out-of-pocket expenses that are spent on classroom materials and activities by the teachers. It's significant."

Knowlan, whose wife is a Jackson teacher, added: "Those (who) do not live with a teacher in the district, do not realize what they do to help the district purchase classroom materials."

Knowlan said that as the district's budget tightens, teachers continue to spend their own money to do things the district no longer can fund.

In other business, the board:

Approved the lone bid of State Farm Mutual Insurance and the Bill Wallace Agency of Jackson for the annual school-owned vehicle insurance premium for 1992-93.

The Wallace bid was $18,103, an increase of $4,344 over this year's premium. School board member Marvin Adams, who is employed by State Farm Mutual, abstained from voting.

Business Manager Howard Alexander said the school district's claim against the insurance carrier following the vandalism of 104 school bus tires last December "had an impact on the (premium) increase."

Approved the low bid of $21,154 by Miller Drywall of Scott City for exterior wall insulation and finish and a roof for the central administration building.

Agreed to continue its depository agreement with the two local Jackson banks, and to secure competitive bids for investing school funds.

Approved an application for the school VIDEO program, now in its fourth year. The program enables the district to receive educational programs via satellite, and for the faculty to participate in satellite teleconferences. "It's an excellent program for us,' said Jones.

The school district is required to fund 10 percent of the total cost of the program, or $14,000. Most of the local money will go toward the purchase of computer and video equipment.