WCS Raises Hourly, Salary Wages
During Monday night’s Warsaw Community Schools board meeting, the school board approved the raising of hourly and salaried wages.
According to WCS Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott, the pay raises come after a new master contract for teachers was approved in September. Last night’s approval adjusted salaries and wage rates for all remaining employees in the school system.
Scott explained that hourly rates are a combination of an inflation increase coupled with year two of the market rate adjustments that were initiated in 2012, and that salary adjustments are generally aligned with those received by the teaching staff.
The approved increases are reportedly supported by the schools budget capacity, which includes growing revenues.
In other news, WCS Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz announced WCS has received grades for each school and as a district from the state, but that the grades are currently embargoed. According to Hintz, the grades are being embargoed in order for school corporations to review for accuracy and to give corporations an opportunity to make appeals to the state.
Hintz stated, “I am very pleased with the results and express my sincere gratitude to our staff for their great work in WCS. The grades will be released to the public as soon as they are released from the State Board of Education.”
In other business
- John Sadler and McHatton Sadler Funeral Chapels were honored during the meeting for the donation of the Arrive Alive Text and Driving Simulator for the Warsaw Area Career Center. The simulator provided an opportunity for Warsaw Community High School SADD activities to give students first-hand experience in the dangers of texting and driving. The Arrive Alive driving simulator rental is valued at $2,500. According to Ronna Kawsky, principle of the Warsaw Area Career Center, a total of 250 students pledged to not drive distracted as a result of their time using the simulator.
- Warsaw Community High School has been awarded the Indiana Gold Star School Counseling Award sponsored by the Indiana Achievement Institute. The award highlights the hours of work completed by the WCHS counseling Steering Team and Advisory Council. It means the WCHS counseling program meets or exceeds the nine components of the Indiana School Counseling Program Standards. Receiving the Indiana Gold Star School Counseling Award also qualifies WCHS to be a recipient of the American School Counselor Association’s national award called Recognized ASCA Model Program.
- During the past football season, Edgewood and Lakeview middle schools hosted their annual Pink Out football game. Both schools sold T-shirts and collected donations for the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund. In total, both schools raised $600. Over the last 4 years, WCS students have raised just shy of $40,000 for the Cancer Care Fund.
- The school board approved a donation from The Church of the Good Shepherd to students at Jefferson Elementary. The church donated money for eye, dental and doctor appointments for students and families that may not be able to afford the appointments. Additionally, the funds will be used to buy winter clothing or shoes for students in need.
- A donation of $2,500 from Teachers Credit Union was accepted for WCS PLC Steering Committee luncheons. These luncheons take place six times per school year and provide a time for teachers and administrators to collaborate and learn.
- The school board voted to approve the Indiana Secure School Safety Matching Grant in the amount of $50,000. (see related)
- The next Work Session of the Board is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. The final Board Meeting of the year is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16.
- To view the October Financial Recap click here. To view November’s personnel report click here.