GLENWOOD CITY — All Glenwood City School District employees should realize a bump in pay this coming year after the board of education approved a new compensation package during its April 11th meeting.
Under the 2022-23 compensation package, teaching staff will receive an average increase of 4.36 percent, hourly support staff will see a 4.26 percent raise in their wages while bus drivers and salaried staff and administration will get an average increase of 4.0 and 3.0 percent, respectively.
Breaking down the new compensation for teaching staff and hourly support staff, teachers in steps 1 through 12 will be receiving an additional $1,000 next school year, those educators in steps 13-18 will realize an extra $500 and teachers above cell 18 on the wage schedule will be receiving an additional 3 percent or about $2,078. Support staff members in cells 1 through 13 will be getting a 35 cent per hour raise with those hourly staff members above cell 13 receiving a 60 cent per hour increase.
Following a closed-door executive session, the board approved three hirings to fill teaching vacancies left by the impending retirements Angela and Gordy Hierlmeier and Mary Jones. Current second-grade teacher Holly Olson was chosen to fill Gordy Hierlmeier’s elementary physical education position while third-grade educator Sarah Nichols will assume the position of middle school/high school art teacher currently held by Jones. Maddie LeBauton, who is currently student teaching with Angela Hierlmeier and will graduate from UW-Eau Claire later this spring, was tabbed to fill her mentor’s position as the new vocal music teacher for the district.
The district will be posting the teaching vacancies for second and third grades.
The board also approved other personnel changes during the consent agenda portion of the meeting. Kathy Hansen and Terri Swanepoel were hired as new food service staff members, Wendy Webb will soon join the evening custodial staff. Dennis Hoff and Bruce Kaiser were promoted to the daytime and afternoon/evening custodial leads, respectively. Board members also accepted the resignation of high school social studies teacher and girls’ head basketball coach Dean Ballanti, effective at the conclusion of this school year and granted the administration permission to post the vacancy immediately.
Glenwood City art teachers Mary Jones and Brenda Johnson gave a departmental presentation to board members Monday evening. The pair said that it has been a very busy and eventful winter and spring with activities that included a soil conservation poster contest for the fourth and fifth grade students, Youth Art Month (in March), and set design and painting for the all-school musical production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” which took place this past weekend.
Jones and Johnson also announced and invited the board and community members to the upcoming Spring Art Shows which will take place Thursday, April 28th for Kindergarten through second grade and will be held in conjunction with the elementary spring concert and the high school art show which is slated for Friday, May 13th in conjunction with the annual Pops Concert.
Administrators touched on several topics during their reports to the board.
Elementary principal Betsy Haltinner reported on some family engagement activities that have and will be held. She stated that over 100 students and their family members participated in the “Bingo for Books” event held March 17 noting that every child left with a new book. There is also an upcoming event for the families of 4K and Tiny Topper students on May 18 that will feature a free taco meal and entertainment by the “Jolly Pops”. Haltinner also updated members on the progress and planning for summer school activities which is slated for June 6-17 and will include academic skill building opportunities. The TOPS program and sports skills will also return.
First-year high school/middle school principal Marcy Burch said this time of year has proven to be both busy and exciting as graduation quickly approaches. Burch noted that the Class of 2022 has 37 members, 14 of which are honor students. She said an overnight senior class trip to Wisconsin Dells is set for May 11 and 12. Graduation week includes a special scholarship and awards ceremony set for Wednesday evening, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. This year’s graduation ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 21 in the high school gymnasium.
District administrator Tim Johnson gave a brief budget update saying that consumable things such as fuel and electricity are “slightly over budget” while staffing expenses are “slightly under budget”. He then suggested that the board consider spending any surplus monies from this year’s budget on the purchase of items for upcoming projects.
Johnson was also happy to report that district’s new five-year lease of printers and copiers came in lower than the previous lease because the schools are making less copies. He noted that the district spends about $25,000 annual on copiers, printers and supplies and an additional $7,000 to $8,000 on paper. The new lease agreement will cost the district approximately $2,400 per month.
The board appointment member Sally Standaert as its representative to the CESA 11 annual convention to be held June 6 in Turtle Lake.
Finally, the board recognized and honored outgoing board members Lori Klinger and Steve Davis, presenting each a gift. Klinger, who is the board clerk, has served as a member for the past 18 years while Davis served for three years.
In a related matter, newly elected members Nicole Miller and Chuckie DeSmith along with returning incumbent Sally Standaert will each take their oaths of office at the April 25 meeting.
