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Centralia High School moves forward on solar project and approves salary increases for staff

By WJBD Staff Aug 26, 2022 | 8:47 AM

Solar power was the main topic of discussion at the monthly meeting of the Centralia High School Board of Education.  The board gave Superintendent Dr. Chuck Lane authority to negotiate toward final approval by the board for a new solar array near the high school.

“Sounds like we have some really good opportunities to save a lot of money in the long haul.  Really good presentation by AGE to give us all the options so we are going to take a look at all of them and try to make the best decision.  But right now it’s nice to know we are going to save a significant amount of money on our power over the next number of years.”

Ownership and financing details are still to be determined.

Ross Calliott, A G E vice president for operations, says the new Inflation Reduction Act may make the project even more economical for the district, with rates possible as low as 2.5 cents per KWH, perhaps even lower.  In comparison, Ameren customers not covered by electric aggregation are paying more than 10 cents per KHW.

In the motion, the project will move forward provided that the power rate paid by Centralia High School doesn’t exceed 4 cents per kilowatt hour.

The location of the field is yet to be determined but could be in two locations. One is across the street and east of the high school, with the second north of the CHS Annex.

A tentative budget was approved by the board for the 2022-23 school year.  Superintendent Chuck Lane says there is a projected surplus of $400,000.

“Right now the numbers look pretty good.  Projecting about a $300-400,000 surplus.  Trying to tighten those numbers up a little bit before next month but all in all a really good tentative budget.”

The board also approved salaries for the certified and non-certified staff, with a cost increase to the district averaging 3.25 percent, based on 2022-23 state funding.

Lane further explained.

“We covered our three-year agreement from last year.  It really depends on how much new money we get.  It is an easy way to do it.  We get X amount of dollars and it fits into the formula as a 3.25% raise that includes the teachers’ steps so that’s all in.  We did the same raise for our non-certified staff.  We will do all the administrative raises next month but typically they are exactly the same as what the regular staff is.”

Principal Dr. Reid Shipley told the board that homecoming is early this year, coming on Sept. 23 for the homecoming game against Althoff, and Sept. 24 for the homecoming dance. Shipley added that for all events on campus this year students below high school age must be accompanied by parents, not older siblings and that high school students must have their school ID to attend the game.

Total enrollment, at both the main campus and the Annex, is around 875 students. He added that midterms are coming up on Sept. 16, and added that “things are going… pretty smoothly.”

The board also approved moving a student to the Alternative Learning Academy who violated school rules by threatening a staff member.

In other action the board moved:

  • to accept the letter of resignation from Debbie Willis, part-time aide, effective August 10, 2022;
  • to accept the letter of resignation from Ben Alli, Annex security guard, effective August 26, 2022;
  • to employ Shannaha Marcum as a part-time cafeteria worker for the 2022-2023 school year;
  • to employ Ashley Johnson as a full-time individual aide for the 2022-2023 school year;
  • to employ Gavin McDonal as a full-time individual aide for the 2022-2023 school year;
  • to employ Kaytlan Branch as a full-time individual aide for the 2022-2023 school year;
  • to employ Duke Roberts as a full-time classroom aide for the 2022-2023 school year;
  • to employ James Taylor as a full-time Annex security guard for the 2022-2023 school year;
  • to employ Michael Cooley as a volunteer assistant boys’ soccer coach for the 2022-2023 school year;
  • and to employ Doug Jack as the Physical Education department coordinator for the 2022-2023 school year.