NEW MARKET — Some non-certified staff at Southmont Schools will soon see more money in their paychecks.
On Monday, the board of trustees agreed with Superintendent Dr. Chad Cripes who asked for raises for the aides and lead teachers at the preschool. The aides will receive $14 an hour, up from $11.50 an hour. The bump brings them in line with the rest of the instructional aides’ in the district. All lead teachers will receive a raise from $14 to $16 an hour, and $18 an hour if the teacher is CDA (Child Development Associate) certified.
The board approved the raises with a unanimous vote.
Cripe also asked for and was granted a request for a $1.50 an hour raise for roughly 15 non-certified staff members that includes librarians, secretaries, etc. The raise would be retroactive to the beginning of the school year.
The board approved the request with a unanimous vote.
The board recognized visitors that included student and staff members of the month for October.
Students of the month for October included third-grader Hannah Roark from Ladoga Elementary, Kitley Maddock from New Market Elementary, Oliver Woods from Walnut Elementary, Elizabeth Brown from Southmont Junior-High and Seth Tolliver from Southmont High School.
Staff of the month for October included Ashley Perry from Ladoga Elementary, Julie Page from New Market Elementary, Beth Binch from Walnut Elementary, Haley Roberts and Christina Kerns from Southmont Junior High and Rebekah Thomas from Southmont High School.
Cripe reported that Southmont High School Principal Ashley Hammond stepped up regarding her CTE report.
“She really stepped up the last two weeks, and went beyond her call of duty with our CTE report,” Cripe said. “Because of her hard work and just really getting down in the trenches and looking at the students’ schedules, to really work the CTE funding. It’s very complicated, and even harder when you have to deal with the trimester schedule. She was able to go back and one by one and hand by hand really figure that out.”
Southmont Schools Director of Operations Mike Tricker also was commended by Cripe.
“I also want to point out Mr. Tricker,” Cripe said. “On his own, he went and is now federal food service authority. What I can tell you is, we often know that legislators like to pass down laws that the implications it will have on everybody. And what they said is that every not-for-profit organization that serves food has to have a directly employed food service authority. Because of his hard work and dedication to the corporation, we can now fill this role, and I just really appreciate Mr. Tricker doing this.”
The board also approved the consent agenda, which included prepaid claims of $1,237,137 and payroll of $855,334 for a total of payroll and claims for October of $2,092,272.
In personnel matters, the board:
• Approved the resignation of Autumn Ramsey, elementary teacher at New Market, and hired Cheryl Crowder.
• Approved Cindy Bannon as a substitute for Jessica Barnhart, who will be on maternity leave, Jan. 2, 2023 through Feb. 27, 2023.
• Approved Alexa Quinton as a homebound teacher for two students at Southmont junior-high school.
• Approved the resignation of Jessica Copeland, technology, effective Oct. 26.
• Approved Megan Sperry as building computer technician at New Market.
• Approved the resignation of Chloe Linzie, instructional aide at Southmont junior-high, effective Nov. 9.
• Approved the following extra duty recommendations: Jane Coudret, IHSAA Sectional football worker, $40; Kelley Hopkins, IHSAA Sectional football worker, $40; Ashley Hammond, IHSAA Sectional football worker, $40; Jake Turner, IHSAA Sectional football worker and fall clock worker, $480; Kathryn Yoakum, fall concessions coordinator/supervisor, $1,000; Amy Woodall, fall play director, $1,250; and Sarah Fadil, fall play assistant director, $750.
• Rescinded a stipend for Josh Mansfield, sixth grade boys basketball coach, in the amount of $2,000.
• Approved the following positions and stipends: Katie Lashley, sixth grade boys basketball coach, $2,000; Juan Grino, varsity assistant wrestling coach, $2,000; Alex Grino, varsity assistant wrestling coach, volunteer; Scott Dove, varsity assistant wrestling coach, volunteer; Clay Buck, boys junior varsity basketball coach, $3,000; Josh Mansfield, boys freshman/C team basketball coach, $2,000; Desson Hannum, winter weights program, $1,726; Katy Yoakum, ELA department head, $1,049; Laura Duncan, Special Education department head, $1,049; and Tyler Davis, Ladoga Elementary student council, $211.
• Approved donations made to Southmont High School in the amount of $670.
• Approved a request for the high schol band to travel to New Orleans from Oct. 17 to Oct. 23, 2023.
• Approved a change to the Southmont High School handbook regarding wearing shorts and blankets in classrooms.
The next scheduled board meeting is 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the administration office.
