CCS teachers get 2.7% base pay raise bump

    Teaching staff at Chase County Schools will see a $1,000 increase in their base pay for the 2022-23 school year.
    After a brief closed session at the Jan. 11 meeting, board of education members approved a base salary of $37,500, up from the current year’s $36,500.
    That represents a 2.7% increase.
    Supt. Adam Lambert said all other benefits, including health coverage, will remain the same for 2022-23.
    Due to federal law and having more than 50 employee (CCS has right around 100 employees), Lambert said they are required to offer benefits.
    Part-time employees would receive a benefit package that matches their level of FTE,  or full-time equivalency. For example a .5 FTE employee would receive .5 benefits and would have to pay the difference if they choose to take the benefit package.  
    Lambert said employees have two options for health insurance.
    There is one with a deductible of $1,450 (single)/$2,900 (family). Cost of premium on singles is $647.21, employee and children is $1,197.38, employee and spouse is $1,359.15 and family is $1,825.
    The second option is a high deductible plan with an HSA account.

    The deductible is $3,600 (single)/$7,200 (family). The premium is less so the difference in the two premiums is put into the employee’s HSA account.
     Premiums for singles are $565.12, employee and children $1,045.50, employee and spouse $1,186.77 and family $1,593.52. As an example, for an employee on single insurance the district puts $82.09 into their HSA account each month ($647.21 - $565.12).
    Lambert said the district ends up paying the same each month whether employees are on the low or high deductible plan.
    He added the new negotiated agreement also cleans up schedule B for certificated staff. That’s the pay schedule for teachers who also are activity sponsors and coaches.
    Negotiations between the board and Imperial Education Association have been ongoing for several months.
Press box to be built    
    After first discussing it last month, the board approved construction of a visitor’s side press box at the football field.
    The approval came after the price rose about $6,000 from last month to a cost of $31,586.49 for the plan that includes storage underneath. Estimates were received from Adams Lumber.
    Despite the increase, the five board members present voted to go ahead with the project that will start in the fall.
    Board members discussed whether to go forward, or not, with prices on the rise again for lumber and materials. Some thought maybe by waiting, prices would drop again.
    In the end, they voted to move forward with the project.
    Members of the CCS industrial arts classes will build the press box under teacher Jeff Gleisberg’s supervision.
    All of the board members share duties on six main board committees, which were assigned at last week’s meeting. Those include:
    Negotiations— Linsey Foote, Carrie Terryberry, Steve Wallin, Cindy Arterburn.
    Curriculum and Technology— Jeff Olsen, Steve Wallin, Linsey Foote, Josh Fries.
    Transportation/Bldg. and Grounds— Willy O’Neil, Steve Wallin, Dan Reeves, Carrie Terryberry.
    Budget/Supt. Evaluation—Jeff Olsen, Karl Meeske, Dan Reeves, Willy O’Neil.
    Policy— Jeff Olsen, Cindy Arterburn, Josh Fries.
    Health & Safety/American Civics—Linsey Foote, Josh Fries, Karl Meeske.
    Supt. Lambert reminded incumbent board members who wish to file for another term that they need to file as candidates by Feb. 15.
    CCS board members whose terms are up the end of this year are Cindy Arterburn, Jeff Olsen, Steve Wallin and Dan Reeves.