Board tables staff wage increase

SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley School Board reviewed two budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2022-23, one shows a 5.5% salary increase for certified and non-certified staff, the other a 4% increase.

Discussion around the two proposals offered concerns regarding budget cushion. During the 2021-2022 school year, the District is over budget for garbage disposal, propane and substitute teacher costs. However, according to District Clerk Heather Mincey, the overall budget is okay. “We have only spent 80% of our budget with two months left of school,” Mincey said.

Junior High Teacher Colleen Harrington, representing the teachers, presented information regarding certified staff salaries around the area and requested an increase to work toward parity with the other districts, including Clinton and Helmville, along with consideration of inflation. Harrington said if the $2,000 stipend given certified staff two years ago had been added to the base, the District would be closer to parity.

Vice Chair Kitty Logan said the stipend was given as a reward for being under budget that year. “We hesitated to put more money on the base, because essentially, could we afford it?” Logan said. “We have this budget cap.”

Mincey explained the District budget is capped at the maximum due to enrollment numbers by state statute.

The board opted to table further discussion directing Mincey to run some additional options for consideration.

“Our culture has always been to maximize what the staff will receive,” said Board Chair Jimmy Boyd. “One of our responsibilities is managing public funds.”

In other action the board:

• Approved sending out a School Climate Survey to students, staff and parents.

• Approved revisions to the School Wellness Policy to comply with Montana School Board Association recommendations.

• Approved FY2023 County Election Contract.

• Certified Election of Trustees by Acclimation: Sara Lamar, Sophie Trull and Jesse Russell. Vice Chair Logan had to leave the meeting and will be sworn in at a later date.

• Elected Boyd as board chair and Logan as vice chair.

• Appointed Mincey as district clerk.

The next meeting will be June 13 at 7 p.m. Some agenda items will be continued including: ESSER building improvements; certified and classified staff wage schedule; contracts for Principal Aaron Morgenstern and Secretary Katie Gleason; and FY 2023 contract with Seeley Lake Elementary.