Place, Date and Time of Meeting
701 W. Wetmore Road, August 29, 2000, 7:00 p.m.

Board Members Present
Dr. Kenneth Smith, President
Nancy Young Wright, Vice President/Clerk
Kent Barrabee, Member
Mike Prout, Member
Mary Schuh, Member

Central Administrators Present
Dr. Vicki M. Balentine, Superintendent
Dr. Katie M. Frey, Associate Superintendent
Dr. Richard Hooley, Associate Superintendent
John E. Rose, Associate Superintendent
Todd A. Jaeger, J.D., Associate to Superintendent and General Counsel

Call to Order and Signing of Visitors Register

Dr. Kenneth Smith called the meeting to order and asked members of the audience to sign the visitors register.

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held September 12, 2000, at Wetmore Center. The September 26 Board meeting will be held at Nash Elementary School.

Pledge of Allegiance
Dr. Balentine led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Dr. Smith described procedures that would be followed in addressing the Board. No members of the audience addressed the Board.

1. Discussion and Approval of Salary and Compensation Benefits for Classified, Certificated, Professional Non-Teaching, and Administrative Employees for the 2000-2001 Fiscal Year
A. Classified
B. Certificated
C. Professional Non-Teaching
D. Administrative

John Lewandowski, President, Amphitheater Education Association; Mark Cavendish (VP, classified); Hank Rowe, Past President, Amphitheater Education Association; and Phil Woodall (Amphitheater Leadership Association) addressed the Board regarding negotiations. Audience members addressed the Board: David Bromley, Andy Morales, Karyn Vick, Andrea Shiers, Joanne Benoit, Elizabeth Nelson, Marc Sabb, Chris A. Clark, Mike Gemma, Casey Smythe.

Dr. Balentine stated she would present three recommendations related to salary increases for the 2000-2001 school year: the first, immediate salary increase recommendations; second, related to receipt of a second trigger from the state; and third, moneys to be received if district growth is greater than 2.5%. John Rose presented information on the first and second triggers, noting that the first trigger is quite certain, and would be $400,000. There is a possibility the second trigger will be received, which would amount to an additional $400,000. If the district grows more than 2.5%, additional revenues will be received. In discussion, Dr. Balentine stated that on September 15 the Governor will make an announcement regarding the second trigger; announcement of any growth money is expected by March.

Noting that at the last Governing Board meeting the Board increased the rate for substitutes, another important group of employees in the district, Dr. Balentine made the following recommendations:

1. Immediate Salary Increase Recommendations - 4% overall increase for certified, classified and professional non-teaching employee groups Step increment for certified, classified and professional non-teaching employee groups Balance of $ to equal 4% as the percent increase across the board for certified, classified and professional non-teaching employee groups 2. 2nd Trigger Recommendations - 4% overall increase for administrators, contingent upon receipt of the 2nd trigger money Step increment for administrative group Balance of $ to equal 4% as percent increase across the board for administrative group - Balance of 2nd trigger money after administrative increase to other employee groups, prorated by group 2nd trigger money for classified employee group to be applied at a flat amount per FTE 2nd trigger money for certified and professional non-teaching employee groups to be applied to begin a step correction for professionals who are 3 or greater than 3 steps behind 3. Greater than 2.5% Growth Recommendations - Funds from enrollment growth >2.5% will be prorated by group and allocated in equal amounts per employee within each of the four employee groups

Ms. Schuh inquired about increased cost of insurance to district employees; Mr. Jaeger and Dr. Balentine responded. Ms. Schuh requested that comprehensive information be relayed to all employees as well as Board members. Mr. Prout asked that a future agenda item be scheduled to consider whether or not the package of benefits is equitably treated in the overall package. Dr. Balentine confirmed that the 2nd trigger would provide partial rectification of step correction for teachers who are behind in the salary schedule.

Ms. Young Wright reviewed budget cuts that were made during the summer, based on recommendations from the Budget Advisory Committee and the Superintendent. She referred to Citizens Advocates for Public Education (CAPE), and asked for those who wished to become involved to see Karyn Vick or Andy Morales. Mr. Prout emphasized an earlier start next year for negotiations, according to policy. He noted the continuing need to look for ways to put more money into payroll, and encouraged everyone to protactively contribute to the process of doing things better, bringing ideas to the attention of the Board. The Board was addressed by Hank Rowe, Phil Woodall, Steve Duley (representative of the Professional Non-Teaching group), and Mark Cavendish. Ms. Schuh asked that each group be voted on separately.

A motion was made by Dr. Barrabee to accept the first part of the proposal:

4% overall increase for certified, classified and professional non-teaching employee groups, with a step increment for certified, classified, and professional non-teaching employee groups, and then the balance of the money to equal 4% as the percent increase across the board for certified, classified and professional non-teaching employee groups.

The motion was seconded by Ms. Young Wright and passed unanimously, 5-0.

A motion was made by Dr. Barrabee to accept the second recommendation:

This is the 2nd trigger recommendation, which calls for a 4% overall increase for administrators contingent upon receipt of the 2nd trigger money. Step increment for administrative group, and a balance of the money to equal 4% as the percent increase across the board for the administrative group. It also calls then for the balance of the 2nd trigger money after administrative increase to other employee groups prorated by group, the 2nd trigger money for classified employee group to be applied at a flat amount per FTE; and the 2nd trigger money for certified and professional non-teaching employee groups to be applied to step correction for professionals who are 3 or greater than 3 steps behind.

Mr. Prout seconded the motion.

Ms. Schuh stated that she did not support any salary increase at this time for administrators, but in order to support the other increases she would have to vote yes, that she was doing it under protest, because of the way it was phrased. Mr. Prout asked that the motion be changed to accommodate Ms. Schuh; Dr. Barrabee asked Ms. Schuh to state what she wanted included.

Ms. Schuh stated she would amend the motion to read that any salary increase, financial enhancement, trigger moneys that apply to the administrators, will be dealt with on a separate basis. Dr. Barrabee asked Ms. Schuh if she was asking that these not be a part of the 2nd trigger recommendations; Ms. Schuh replied in the affirmative. Ms. Schuh stated that she was separating them because as agendized the Board was to vote on the groups separately; as it was, item D, Administrative, was locked in with this second recommendation. Ms. Young Wright seconded the motion for discussion. Following brief discussion, the maker and seconder of the motion withdrew the motion.

Ms. Schuh moved "The trigger money to be applied to all groups except the administration -- all salaries, all benefits to be enhanced -- I would move that, full elimination of all administration." Ms. Schuh confirmed that she was moving that all the 2nd trigger money go toward all the other three groups. Ms. Young Wright seconded the motion for discussion.

Mr. Prout stated that his understanding was that the four groups who were collectively bargaining among themselves reached what they determined to be an equitable arrangement. He asked the negotiator representa- tives of each of those four groups to speak if they did not think that the arrangement that was made by the internal negotiations was indeed equitable. Phil Woodall, Mark Cavendish, and Hank Rowe and Steve Duley responded.

The motion failed.

Dr. Barrabee moved the original motion (for the second recommendation). Mr. Prout seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, 5-0.

A motion was made by Dr. Barrabee regarding the third consideration: If there is greater than 2.5% growth, that all of the moneys from the plus-2.5% be used first to rectify step delays, beginning with those who are furthest behind; if all the steps are rectified, then the balance will be distributed equally. Ms. Young Wright seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, 5-0.

Audience members addressed the Board: John Lewandowski, regarding insurance being a part of the negotiated package; and requesting that when people address the Board, they identify who they are speaking for; Andy Morales, regarding agendizing of district insurance, and regarding negotiations; Karyn Vick, insurance rates. Mr. Jaeger responded to concerns raised over insurance rates. Dr. Smith asked Dr. Balentine to look into the matter of some employees' belief that there has been an increase in insurance costs.

A motion was made by Ms. Young Wright, seconded by Dr. Barrabee and passed unanimously, that the meeting be adjourned. The time was 8:46 p.m.

Back to Amphi Homepage