School Board member questions process for salary increases

Board member Reva Sehr registered her frustration Thursday night by voting “no” to how some administrative salaries are determined at Luverne Public Schools.
“Ever since I came on the board in 2015, they have requested a 3.5 percent increase,” said Sehr, who was elected to the board five years ago.
“This is the fifth year in a row the same request has come through.”
The vote was 4-1 in favor of the 3.5-percent increase effective for the 2019-2020 school year. Board members Katie Baustian and Shelley Sandbulte were not at the meeting.
Board members tabled the initial salary discussion from their June 20 meeting and directed the district’s personnel committee to review the five salaries and projected increases.
“We felt it was very appropriate,” said board member Colleen Deutsch, who serves on the personnel committee.
She said committee members looked at data of similar positions in other school districts as well as compared salaries to similar positions in Luverne and Rock County.
Sehr prefaced her dissenting vote by suggesting setting goals and evaluating each employee before the next salary increase request.
“I appreciate everything these five people do, but there is a flaw in the process,” Sehr said. “I am frustrated with the process.”
The district’s business manager made the 3.5-percent increase recommendations each year, according to Superintendent Craig Oftedahl.
Salary increases were approved for:
•Business manager Marlene Mann, $80,980.
•Technology coordinator Wade Hiller, $74,151.
•Administrative assistant Brenda Teal, $51,943.
•Transportation supervisor Brad Goembel, $63,113.
•Food service director Ann Rigney, $36,818.
 
Other wage increases
Other wage increases tabled from the June 20 meeting were approved in a 5-0 vote on July 18. They include:
•Two-hour food service workers to $13.50 per hour, up from $12.50.
•Substitute teachers to $126 per day, up from $120 in 2018.
•Bus driver compensations to $93 per day regular and Sioux Falls routes, up from $90 in 2018; preschool-kindergarten route to $46.50 per day, up from $45; activities trip to $15 per hour, up from $14.50; and daily rate (overnight) to $130 per day, up from $125.
The board also approved increasing the maximum reimbursement to school bus drivers of $115 for physicals and $47 for licenses.
 
Other personnel matters
Other personnel decisions made July 18 with 5-0 votes included:
•hiring Liza Winkler as elementary education teacher for a salary of $47,603.
•hiring Morgan Smith as assistant marching band advisor, $688.
•accepting resignations from Bonnie Busse-Reu, bus driver, effective July 31, and Anne Huiskes, two-hour food service worker, effective May 31.
•granting medical leave for preschool teacher Becky Runnoe from Sept. 8 through approximately Oct. 31.
•granting maternity leave for high school English teacher Julie Fettes for 10 weeks beginning Sept. 5.
The board approved the per pupil rate for private/parochial transportation. The rate is $345 per pupil, the same amount since the 2015-16 school year.
School board compensation will stay the same for the 2019-20 school year. Board members are paid $60 for each regular board meeting, $50 for special meetings and $110 for meetings lasting more than six hours.
They are also covered by the district’s workers compensation policy and receive an honorary individual activity pass.