Cadott School Board; Salary schedule in need of a closer look

Cadott second graders showed how they used Vocaroo, an online voice recorder, to create an audio version of library books and practice reading fluency, during a regular Cadott School Board meeting May 8. Students placed bookmarks with a scannable code in the books, which links to the voice recording. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

The Cadott School Board saw a proposed staff salary increase, during a regular meeting May 8. Superintendent Jenny Starck says the proposal is for a 3 percent increase to staff members’ base salaries.

“Everything else just incrementally increases the same amount that it always has,” said Starck, while showing the teacher salary chart. “It’s not 3 percent on every single cell.”

Board member Rod Tegels asked if that means the teachers are only getting a cost of living increase on part of their salary, depending on what percentage of their salary is made up of the base amount.

“For some, it ends up to be more or less,” said Starck. “It sort of depends.”

Hourly staff also would see a 3 percent increase on the base. Starck says those with an individual salary would see a 3 percent increase, with the proposal.

Board president Cory LaNou says it seems odd to him that those who have less seniority will see a larger raise, percentage wise, than those who have more seniority and have been with the district longer.

LaNou also asked where the 3 percent came from. Starck says most districts are doing 2.5 percent to 5 percent raises, with an occasional 7 percent.

“What I would say with the 3 percent is, we are confident... that we’ve got the funds to support that,” said Starck, adding the total would be about $365,000.

Starck says not all districts have a step and lane salary schedule anymore, and that the board could look into other options over the next year, if they would like. LaNou says he would like to talk about other options at a future meeting.

Board member Casey Yeager says she has also seen other districts that have lists with things, besides credits, that can move people in the salary scale.

In the meantime, the board approved the 3 percent increase to the base salary for the 2023-24 school year.

The board also approved staffing updates for the 2023-24 school year. One change is switching an elementary instructional coach position to a district-wide instructional coach focusing on math, since the board already approved a districtwide literacy coach position at a previous meeting.

“That’s actually cost neutral, but it is a change in the job role,” said Starck.

Another change is allowing a year of overlap and training for the food service supervisor position.

Finally, the half-time family engagement coordinator position was expanded to cover some special education family and parent involvement requirements.

At a special meeting May 4, the Cadott School Board interviewed two candidates for a vacant position on the board – Steve Roth and Andrea Wahl.

“I think both are very solid, so I don’t think we could really go wrong,” said board member Brad Sonnentag, following the interviews.

After further discussion, board members thought Wahl would be able to bring a different perspective to the board and selected her to fill the position.

Wahl took the oath of office at the end of the special meeting.

Allison Boos, family engagement coordinator, also gave an update, during the regular meeting, on what she has been up to, since the creation of the position. Boos works with staff members to plan events to engage families and the community.

So far, the district hosted a literacy night, a hunt for happiness scavenger hunt, a World Book Day celebration and created a 4K teacher appreciation video.

“We’ve done a bunch more of that kind of stuff,” said Boos. She says they would also like to restart inquiry days, where students present what they are learning to families. Another big idea on her list, is to create an interactive summer reading program. Boos also has a number of other ideas she is working on and says she is open to suggestions from others.

Boos also took over the Weekly Buzz and has a newsletter for families. She says her goal for next year, is to find ways to increase access to the Weekly Buzz and newsletter, for families who do not have reliable internet access.

“That way, during the year, they’re receiving the same information that the rest of our families do,” said Boos. “So, they’re able to be involved, as well, in the same ways.”

Second-grade students also demonstrated to the school board how they used Vocaroo, an online voice recorder, to work on reading fluency.

“They’re very expressive with their reading,” said Nancy Weiss, second grade teacher.

The students made bookmarks with a code on them, which they placed inside the library books. People can scan the code with their phones, to access the students’ audio recording of that book.

Board members also approved the hire of Heather Matherne, pre-K through 12 literacy coach/interventionist; Katie Gebauer, speech language pathologist; and Nicole Jessick, food service director. The retirement date for food service supervisor Deb Zais was also extended to June 30, 2024.

The resignations of Corey Adams, high school science and science olympiad adviser; and Sarah Winchester, elementary special education teacher, were also approved.

I am fortunate to have worked with a dedicated and passionate team of educators, wrote Winchester.

My time here at Cadott has been wonderful and I greatly appreciate the opportunities that you have given me, wrote Adams. This includes starting the science olympiad program, and restarting the AP chemistry and physics courses.

[caption id="attachment_177057" align="alignnone" width="300"] After a special meeting May 4, the Cadott School Board selected Andrea Wahl to fill the vacant board position. Wahl took the oath of office at the end of the meeting. Photo by Julia Wolf[/caption]