NO VOTE ON TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR PAY

New contracts are on the way for Cape Girardeau school teachers, but the district's technology coordinator was put on hold for at least another week.

The district's Board of Education met in a special meeting Friday to consider several agenda items for the 1997-98 school year. The board approved a salary schedule for certified staff, but motions to increase the salary of Chris Cook, technology coordinator, died twice on the floor and will be considered in closed session at the board meeting scheduled on July 28.

The meeting was the second special meeting scheduled to approved a salary schedule for teachers and classified staff. Members met last week and approved salary schedules for all noncertified staff except Cook, whose salary was isolated for consideration. Only four members are eligible to vote on the certified staff schedule, and two were absent from the meeting, so no action was taken.

At Friday's meeting, board president Dr. Ferrell Ervin, and members David Goncher, the Rev. William Bird and Harry Rediger voted unanimously to approve a salary increase of $10 per step for each certified teacher. Steve Wright, the board's vice-president, and member Robert Blank left the room during the vote because they have immediate family members who work in the district.

Dr. Bob Fox, who was also ineligible to vote on the salary schedule, was absent from the meeting.

The salary schedule did not include changes in fringe benefits, which a salary committee representing teachers had worked to include in the package. However, Dr. Dan Tallent, school superintendent, said he will continue to work with the committee on the issue and could ask the board to consider new proposals later in the year.

"We will continue to work on the fringe benefits, and if appropriate, at some time later in the year or sometime next spring, we may ask the board to revisit the salary schedule and consider changes to the fringe benefits," Tallent said via telephone during the meeting. He is out of town for two weeks attending a National Guard training camp.

Tallent asked board members to make Cook's salary more competitive compared to other school districts and private industry. The district's current salary for that position is in the low end for area districts, he said, and they would not be able to hire someone with comparable skills at the salary Cook currently receives.

Cook has also been a successful grant writer for the district, Tallent said, winning more than $102,500 for the district in competitive grants in one and one-half years. Those grants and her overall job performance indicate that she deserves a pay increase, he said.

"She's doing a good job of keeping ahead of technology and keeping our current technology running," Tallent said. "One of my responsibilities is to evaluate and make recommendations for salaries and I feel confident in the job that she has done. I feel like the best recommendation is to keep the salary current with what the position would pay in the industry and in other districts."

Ervin asked board members if they wanted to reconsider approving Cook's pay increase, but the second motion request also died on the floor. Cook, who attended the meeting with her husband, said she will remain within the district, at least for the moment, despite the board's decision.

"I am disappointed," she said after the meeting. "I understand it's not a done deal yet, and I'll continue to work as hard as I already have."