Published: July 15, 2008 04:33 pm            

NA-FC school board has new leaders

Trustees reorganize, talk about collective bargaining and more

Newly re-elected New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. board member Neal Smith is now the president of the school board.

The previous president, Rebecca Gardenour, who was also elected to serve another term in May, declined Lee Ann Wiseheart’s nomination at Monday’s meeting for her to continue her position.

Smith won, 5-1, with Wiseheart voting against.

With board member Roger Whaley absent, the group reached ties multiple times in deciding the other positions: vice president and secretary.

The group finally came to a majority agreement. Gardenour was chosen to serve as vice president with a vote of 4-2, with board members Don Sakel and Jim Zoeller voting against.

Patricia Badger-Byrd, who won her bid for re-election in May, was chosen to continue to serve as the board’s secretary also with a vote of 4-2, with the same two members voting no.

Board to invite teachers’ association back to bargaining table

Bill Briscoe, assistant to the superintendent for administration and operations, told the board the New Albany-Floyd County Education Association’s collective bargaining team showed negative movement at the last bargaining session July 8.

Briscoe told the board the two sides had looked like they were moving closer together in June, with the association asking for a 2.5 percent pay increase for 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years, and the corporation offering 2.33 percent for those same years.

At the last session, Briscoe said the corporation increased its offer to 2.4 percent and included hiring an additional counselor to free up more time for elementary teachers for planning and making a fourth planning period.

He said the association countered, wanting a 3 percent pay increase.

“They threw us a curve ball,” he told the board.

Briscoe said he will invite the association back to the bargaining table.

“We’re willing to meet with them when they are ready to bargain,” he said after the meeting.Solving the shortage of substitutes with more dollars

Briscoe told the board he recommended hiring Kelly Services to make up for a substitute teacher shortfall.

He said last year the corporation often did not have enough substitute teachers to go around.

Kelly Services will cost the corporation about $80,000 more, according to Briscoe. However, he said the company will allow the corporation to free up some time in positions that used to handle substitute teachers, such as human resources. It will also keep them from having to replace the substitute coordinator, who has resigned.

He also said the company suggests it will be able to fill more substitute spots than the corporation has.

Briscoe said he considered increasing the existing per-day pay scale for substitutes from $55/$65, depending on education level, to $65/75. However, he said he did not feel that would make up for the shortfall.

Through Kelly Services, substitutes will be compensated the same, though the corporation would be paying the company $79.20/$86.40, depending on the person’s education level.

With a 6-0 vote, the board approved hiring Kelly Services, who will now be in charge of recruiting, interviewing, screening and hiring of all substitute teachers for the corporation.

REWORKING POLICIES ON TAKE-HOME VEHICLES

The board considered first readings of various policies and approved all to come back for a second reading.

The members talked in-depth about the corporation’s vehicle policy, which allows some employees who use corporation-owned vehicles to take those home with them.

Bill Wiseheart, director of facilities, and Danny Libbs, director of transportation, talked to the board about the benefits of the existing policy, which includes saving on gas for some who live closer to where they work than where the corporation would have them park. They said it also saves on parking, since the corporation doesn’t have enough room to house all vehicles, including busses, in a secure area.

They said those who take vehicles home are also on call at all times.

At the request of board members, the two will find more detailed information before the policy comes up for a vote. Board members requested information on how often those people on call are used, how much money is saved allowing people to drive company vehicles to doctor appointments that are during the workday and other details.

AWARDING VETERANS

The board also had the first reading of a policy that would award high school diplomas to World War I, World War II, Korean conflict and Vietnam War veterans.

Those who were in good standing in high school, left to serve and received an honorable discharge would receive a diploma under this policy.

This also follows Indiana Code, according to Briscoe.

“Not only does it go along with Indiana Code, we think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

The board will vote on the policy after the second reading, which is scheduled for the next school board meeting.

ALSO AT THE MEETING

• The board appointed John Woodard as the corporation’s attorney of record, Fred McWhorter as the corporation’s treasurer and Pam Crump as the recording secretary for the school board.

• The board approved three food services bids. The bakery bid went to Sara Lee/Earthgrains Co. for $56,433. The produce bid went to Roby’s Country Gardens for $82,775. The fresh baked delivered pizza bid went to Wilson Pizza Co. (Domino’s Pizza) for $91,875.

        

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