After hearing a very positive report on the year-end budget, the Salem Community High School Board Monday night approved new contracts with teachers and support staff and reduced registration fees.
Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering says the fiscal year budget will end the year with a $700,000 surplus in the education fund and $300,000 in the building fund, with the transportation fund near the break-even point.
“The combination of several things between federal grants, extra money coming in through school lunch program, through the corporate replacement property tax…it’s been a positive year. We are excited about that and being able to do that allows us to do some of the other things in terms of some upgrades and some reduction of fees in order to be accommodating to everyone as they face harder financial times.”
Those reductions will include cutting the student registration fee in half from $100 to $50 and lowering the iPad yearly fee from $80 to $50 and cutting the number of iPad volunteer hours to avoid having to pay the fee from 16 to 10. On the negative side, Detering says it appears the free student lunch program for everyone will not be renewed for another year and the low and reduced-fee program for low-income students will return.
The board approved a new three-year contract with the Salem Community High School Education Association. It includes a 2.9-percent annual increase in salary plus the step increase and an added $600 insurance benefit. The board also approved a three-year contract agreement with the Support Personnel Association with an annual 5-percent increase and $600 insurance benefit for those that receive health insurance. The board also approved a five percent salary increase for non-certified personnel not covered under contract for the 2022-23 school year.
Salem High School will have six new busses for the start of the school year as they have arrived sooner than the original November delivery date. The board Monday night agreed to sell three of their old busses as surplus property.
Principal John Boles announced as of now they have 703 students enrolled for the start of school in the fall including 183 freshmen, 186 sophomores, 188 juniors, and 188 seniors.
The board accepted the resignation of Abby Clark as General Studies Coordinator.
Belinda Alvis was employed as a secretary and Kelly Bandy as a volunteer assistant track coach.
The board was introduced and congratulated the two track team members who placed at state. Kaleb Smith finished third in the shot put and Cole Johnson 6th in the discus.
