Board approves salary increases

CLINTONVILLE – The Clintonville Board of Education has approved salary increases of at least $1,500 per year for instructional staff, $2,000 per year for directors, and $3,000 per year for district administrators.
The approvals came at the April 14 board meeting.
In addition to approving the salary increases, the board also approved, at the recommendation of Clintonville Superintendent Troy Kuhn, the district moving to three base salaries for new teachers hired by the district. The base salaries would be $43,000 for a teacher with a bachelors degree; $46,000 for a teacher with a masters degree; and $49,000 for a teacher with a doctorate degree.
Also approved at the meeting were wage increases for the district’s hourly staff. Most hourly staff will receive a 75 cents per hour wage increase.

Discussion

When discussing the wage increases, Kuhn told the board that the consumer price index (CPI) is 2.95%.
“We’re not union, but if we were, that’s kind of the number you go off of,” Kuhn said.
He also acknowledged that in the past the board has indicated that adjustments to employee salaries should be done based on years and base salary. He said he has always considered licenses acquired by employees.
A salary increase of $1,500 per year for instructional staff would be a little bit more than CPI if the base salary is used, Kuhn said.
“The average teacher in Clintonville makes $54,000,” Kuhn said.
Board member Glen Drew Lundt asked if the increase would make the Clintonville School District competitive with area school districts.
Kuhn said he thought the district was competitive, but recently discovered some smaller school districts in the area are moving to $45,000 for a new teacher.
“I’m recommending $43,000, I still think it’s a good number,” Kuhn said. “But knowing that we might lose some teachers if I offer them $43,000 right out of college when the neighboring districts are doing $45,000.”
Board member Mark Zachow asked how Clintonville compared to the Shawano and New London school districts.
“At one time Clintonville was pretty good for being comparable,” Kuhn said. “I would say for right now, they’re ahead of us, specifically on hourly staff. We’ve lost quite a few staff, like paraprofessionals and that. Teachers right now, it’s a bidding war.”
Kuhn added, “It’s just not Shawano and New London anymore, it’s whoever can pass an operating referendum to get more money to pay their teachers. That’s kind of what it’s coming down to.”
Board member Laurie Vollrath said she wanted to see a larger pay increase for teachers.
Board member Klint Barkow said he’d like to see what the district will do regarding health insurance for its employees when also considering the amount of a salary increase.
“If their salary increase is eaten up by what they are going to pay in healthcare, that’s going to be a kick in the rear,” Barkow said.
Board Vice President Kris Strauman said she’d like teachers to get a 20% raise, but acknowledged that is not possible.
“The pot of money is only so big,” Strauman said. “And if we’ve got to pay, heaven forbid, a 34% increase so that we can maintain your insurance benefit, we don’t have it in the budget. So, what is the solution if we pass this exorbitant amount of raise and the health insurance, and so forth? We have to think down the line.”
She added that not considering the budget could lead to eliminating programs for kids, or dismissing teachers and administrators.
“There’s so many factors coming down the road that we have to be smart and think ahead because there’s no guarantee a referendum is going to pass, either,” Strauman said.
Vollrath said the district needs to be concerned about teachers leaving.
“You’re not going to keep people all the time anyway,” Strauman said.
Board member Mark Zachow said if teachers leave, it could lead to the district spending more money to replace those teachers.
“Not necessarily,” Strauman said.
Lundt asked Kuhn how the budget would be impacted if the board approved his plan for teacher wage increases.
Kuhn said the teacher wage increases would amount to around $192,000.
Lundt said he agreed with Strauman, adding that the wage increase proposal shows that the district appreciates its teachers.
“I think it’s always a good idea to at least show the appreciation and try to help them,” Lundt said.
Barkow asked how much input the district has received from teachers regarding the district’s health insurance situation for next year.
Kuhn said, “Not much.”
Barkow asked if the district should allow the district’s teachers to provide input.
Kuhn said that would be possible, and meetings could be had.
“The difference (from previous years) is we really don’t have options,” Kuhn said.
Board Treasurer Jason Moder said he agreed with Strauman regarding the wage increase.
“I think we can all sit here and agree that our employees deserve an increase, but we also have to keep in mind the fiscal responsibility, because it’s the honest to god truth, we can’t pay people something we don’t have,” Moder said.

Directors and administrators
The salary increases for district directors and administrators were discussed individually in closed session. As stated, directors will receive at least a $2,000 salary increase. If a director receives more than $2,000, it was due to comparables to their duties in districts of similar size and demographics. Administrators will receive at least a $3,000 salary increase. If an administrator receives more than $3,000, it was due to comparables to their duties in districts of similar size and demographics.