The Neelyville R-IV Board of Education unanimously approved a 1.7 percent pay increase on the salary schedule base for certified staff.
"I think it's time we did something for our teachers, staff and faculty," Superintendent Brad Hagood said recognizing it had been about three years since the last pay raise.
In addition to the 1.7 percent raise and $600 salary increments for certified staff, the board approved a health insurance increase to employees earlier in the year.
With the health insurance increase, $600 increment and 1.7 percent increase, Hagood added the board was looking at a 4.7 percent total increase. The district will spend approximately $41,000 on the combined increases.
Hagood presented the board with two proposed tentative budgets before the approval of the salary increase.
Without approving a raise, Hagood estimated the district would be in the black $44,834. The estimate with approving the raises was $3,767 in the black.
"I think with the 1.7 percent raise, increase in the health insurance given, plus increment already in the salary schedule, we can handle this, so I recommend that budget," Hagood added.
Board member Donna Akers said the district has quality teachers and they do not want to loose them, so she was behind the pay increase.
The board also approved a transfer of $150,000 from the general operating fund to fund four, which is used for capitol improvements.
According to Hagood, about four years ago, money began being placed into the fund four account for a safe room and roof repairs.
Since the district ended up not constructing a safe room and the roofs are taken care of, Hagood said the transfer would cover deficit spending from last year.
Hagood recommended $150,000 because he said he knew $85,000 would go toward a bus and then the district "would go from there."
Hillview repairs
Head of maintenance at Hillview Gary Parish reported an area between the two school buildings was holding water and a portion of the concrete was raised making the sidewalk uneven.
There is no canopy over the area and water stands in the entrance of one classroom causing children not to be able to enter the room, Parish reported.
"(Workers) would cut straight along the south wall of the brick building," he said. "Then cut a square around the tower and drill holes in the concrete where the tower is, to interlock into the new concrete to be poured. They will then take it straight to the east wall of the main building to remove the raised concrete to create a gradual slant."
Parish received an estimate of $2,700 for the work.
"That is not a bad price," Board President Paul Petty said. "It's mostly labor involved with it."
The board approved the work, as well as will expect LP gas bids to be opened at next month's meeting.
Parish also reported a roof on a metal building at Hillview needed replaced.
The board received an estimate for the labor at $8,700 from B&N Contractors and approved the repair, which is estimated to be completed before the beginning of school.
High school work
Hagood also reported he looked into cost estimates to have the windows at the high school tinted.
Hagood received two bids for the window tinting, but one company only bid tinting two of the three stacked windows, while the other bid was high.
"I think if we are going to do it, we do all three," board member Jack Stull said.
While tinting the windows at Neelyville High School, Hagood said he would be interested in looking into the price of tinting the Hillview cafeteria windows as well.
The item was tabled until next month's meeting pending the gathering of more bids to include Hillview.
Curriculum plan
Curriculum Director Heather Wells presented the board with a dyslexia plan following the passing of the dyslexia law, requiring all public education schools to implement a plan this coming school year.
"Of all the initiatives, I'm most excited about this one," Wells said.
While not the job of the school to diagnose students with dyslexia, Wells said the plan outlines characteristic traits for staff to recognize that might be causing reading skills to suffer.
All staff will view a training video at the beginning of the school year and be given the dyslexia plan at professional development to help identify characteristic traits.
The main initiative is K-3 students. They will be screened during the first 30 days of the 2018-19 school year, with the exception of kindergarten students. They will be screened during the second semester.
"What the plan does is lay out what it is going to do for students the whole year," Wells said.
Once traits are identified, Wells said the district will follow through with assistance.
While the plan is K-3 focused, Wells added this is a K-12 initiative and though it is based around reading, the assistance given to students would help in math as well.
"We will probably be surprised how many kids this will help," Petty said.
Hillview needs
Elementary Assistant Principal Debra Parish reported to the board Hillview has been holding fundraisers over the course of the past several years in hopes of someday having a music room at the school and other possible additions.
With the board trying to get a bond for the issue the past several years, Parish said "we are growing out of the seams at Hillview."
This past year, the music teacher went into classrooms to teach and there is an issue with only one teacher bathroom, she added.
"While we are not ready to present any request at this point, I feel like the school has done their part, but the community has not," Parish said. "So we have taken the bull by the horn to continue to raise money at Hillview in hopes that maybe someday we can do something to have a music room, some teacher bathrooms and maybe even an art department kind of thing. Hopefully in the near future we will be presenting something to the board to see if you will let us do it."
During executive session, the board approved the district's supplemental positions including coaches, club sponsors and program coordinators.
Storm damage
Following the meeting, wind damage was reported at the school's baseball and softball fields.
Hagood said the roof of the dugout at the baseball field was blown off, taking about three rows of cinder blocks with it. The fence at the softball field was also blown over due to high winds Thursday evening.
The next Neelyville Board of Education meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 19 at the Central Office board room.