Members of the Joseph City Unified School District Governing Board took steps at their April meeting to retain and recruit teachers, but that action is contingent on passage of Proposition 123 on May 17.
Prop. 123 is a K-12 education funding bill bankrolled by the general fund and state trust lands.
The board agreed to increase the base amount on the teacher pay scale for all levels by $300, and to increase the base amount on the support staff pay schedule by five cents per hour for all positions. In addition, pay for all teachers, support staff and management team schedules would be increased by three percent after applying the base increases.
No increases are planned for the extra duty 2, substitute or temporary pay schedules.
The district would pay 100 percent of the medical rate plan increase for employee coverage in the amount of $396 per year for each employee enrolled in the Value Gold plan; increase the amount it pays for employee coverage by $396 per year for each employee in the Copay Gold plan; pay 100 percent of the medical plan rate increase of $277 per year for each employee in the HDHP plan; and increase the contribution to health savings accounts by $338 per year for employees in the HDHP plan.
The board also approved teacher recruiting and relocation stipends.
All district employees except principals and assistant principals are eligible to receive a one-time finder’s fee of $500 for recruiting a certified teacher who is subsequently hired by the district.
Newly hired teachers are eligible for a relocation stipend provided grant funds are available to pay them. The stipend schedule includes $1,000 for 500 to 1,000 miles; $2,000 for 1,000 to 2,000 miles; and $3,000 for 2,000-plus miles.
In other action April 12, the board:
* Approved a Participants in Learning, Leading and Serving agreement with Grand Canyon University.
Under the agreement, the district’s students are eligible for a $1,000 grant annually at GCU, and students, their families, teachers and other district staff members are offered access to scholarships of varying amounts.
In return, the district agrees to distribute information on GCU to students and staff.
* Honored special education secretary Julie Strong as the April Employee of the Month.
* Approved policy revisions recommended by the Arizona School Boards Association relating to executive sessions/open meetings, notification of board meetings, public participation at board meetings, accident reports, staff conduct, professional/support staff leave of absence without pay, discipline, suspension and dismissal of a professional staff member, promotion and retention of students, graduation requirements, tuition/admission of non-resident students, student discipline and public’s right to know/freedom of information.
* Held first readings to adopt four new textbooks, including Discovering Our Past: A History of the United States, Building Citizenship: Civics and Economics, World History & Geography, and Avancemos I & Avancemos II Spanish book.
* Approved the resignations, effective May 20, of Brian Gardner as Joseph City Junior/Senior High School choral/band teacher, Debra Maxwell as kindergarten instructional aide and Richard Vargas as Joseph City Elementary School part-time physical education teacher.
* Approved the resignation of Michael Sterkowitz as a JCJHS/JCHS teacher effective, as well as rehiring him through ESI for the 2016-17 school year.
* Approved a JCES intramural basketball stipend for Andrea Miller.
* Approved contract renewals for certified personnel, including Teddi Baird, Shari Balda, Kristen Beatty, Laurie Bowler, Darolyn DeWitt, Clare Elmer, Jason Gardner, Joseph Hansen, Ruth Hansen, Theresa Holmes, Shawn Layden, Eric Miller, Laura Mitchell, Frances Monzingo, Darrel Mosier, Lillian Neal, Tamara Pogue, Robert Pugh, Jennifer Ramey, Kay Rush, Amanda Sander, April Sartain, Jim Stradling and Laura Vargas.
* Approved the proposed swimming pool fees of $2 for a single entry, and punch card options of $20 for 12 swims, $30 for 20 swims, $50 for 35 swims, $75 for 65 swims and $100 for 100 swims.
Swim lessons will be $25 per session or $20 per session with a fitness club membership.
Swim team fees are $50 for the season or $40 for the season with a fitness club membership.
Fitness club fees are $140 per person or $400 per family.
* Approved March and April fundraisers for the JCHS softball team.
* Approved the general statement of assurance for the coming school year, as required by the Arizona Department of Education.
* Approved the consent agenda, including general fund vouchers totaling $151,946.90, payroll vouchers totaling $224,573.70, revolving fund vouchers totaling $1,537.70, auxiliary fund vouchers totaling $15,053.61, students activity fund vouchers totaling $8,053.89, district, auxiliary and student activity funds financial summaries, and the first readings of proposed policy changes regarding professional/support staff sick leave and the resignation of support staff members.
* Approved the minutes for the March 8 regular meeting, March 23 special meeting and executive session, and March 31 special meeting.
The next meeting of the board will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, in the board room at 8176 N. Westover St.
