School board to pay teacher supplement

By Lynn Hotaling

Some 15 teachers applauded the Jackson County School Board's decision, which set aside $50,000 from the school system fund balance. The funds amount to a .43 percent supplement for each county teacher to be paid at Christmas.

Teacher salaries locally range from $25,000 for a beginning teacher to $49,400 for a teacher with 30-plus years of experience and a master's degree, said school system finance officer David Steinbicker. School system supplements, which will be calculated based on .43 percent of each teacher's annual salary, will range from $107 to $212, he said.

All supplements will be subject to standard payroll deductions, and each teacher's net will depend on his or her tax bracket. Steinbicker estimated that each county teacher would actually receive between $70 and $137. Some 260 county teachers will be eligible for the supplements, Steinbicker said.

Local teachers have indicated their preference for a supplement that is a percentage of salary rather than one that would distribute the same amount to each teacher. Backers of supplements for county teachers have proposed phasing in a supplement over several years until the targeted 5 percent funding is achieved.

If Jackson County commissioners agree to match the school system's $50,000, the per teacher supplement could double before any money is disbursed in December. Board Chairman Martha Queen said she would bring the matter before county commissioners during their meeting tonight (Thursday) in Cashiers.

Commissioners have thus far refused to pay for teacher supplements.

School officials, on the other hand, have lent vocal support to the plan, which was first proposed in January, but have consistently said they lacked the money to make supplements a reality. Board members included funds for supplements in the budget request they submitted to commissioners earlier this year but were forced to postpone the plan when that budget was not fully funded.

Chairman Queen reminded the jubilant teachers that, as it stands now, the supplement is a "one-time shot," because of the uncertainty of future funding.

Teacher supplements, supporters contend, are a necessary tool to retain and attract quality teachers in the face of a predicted teacher shortage. Most school systems across the state now offer supplements, teachers said.

In other action Sept. 18:

- Blue Ridge School parent Jim Nichols reported that things are going well at Blue Ridge, and that several newly-appointed school committees are meeting. A number of parents from Summit Charter School are involved as well, he said.

Nichols indicated to board members that there is a need for a school social worker at Blue Ridge and requested that board members provide at least a part-time social worker to the K-12 school.

- Board members approved a 120-page faculty handbook and a 42-page athletic policy manual for Blue Ridge School.

- An activities schedule for students designated New Century Scholars was approved by the board.

- Several contracts for the Developmental Day program were approved. The largest of these, with Southwestern Child Development Commission, pays that agency almost $125,000 for providing services to some 35 special needs students.

- Board members approved three outdoor excursions for selected county students in grades 4-6 in connection with the Pursuit of Excellence program administered by Project SOAR. Other approved trips include Blue Ridge volleyball team to a tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla., Oct. 5-8; Fairview fourth grade to Knoxville (Tenn.) Zoo, May 3; and Smoky Mountain High varsity and JV soccer teams to Milligan College in Johnson City, Tenn., Sept. 23.

- In personnel action, board members approved several employee transfers: Terry Hilton was named testing coordinator but will continue as administrative assistant in the assistant superintendent's office; Kelli Mathis, office assistant in assistant superintendent's office; and John Leddy, custodian, Scotts Creek School. Board members approved the employment of Jessica Machnik, summer and after school assistant, Blue Ridge; Erin Byrnes, interim teacher for a teacher on family leave, SMHS; and Holly Rowan, B-K teacher, private day care centers and homes, temporary part-time.

Resignations were accepted from Kathleen Ensley (retirement), school food service, and Jim Clayton, custodian, both at Scotts Creek; Janice Wood (retirement), teacher, Fairview; Nancy Farmer (retirement), personnel secretary, Central Office; and Helen Holmes, school food service, Blue Ridge.

Approved as substitute teachers were Elizabeth Butler, Lori Myers, Sara Shaw and Albert Undeen.

Back to Archive: 09/21/00.