The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1049018
A-8 Local Wednesday, November 7, 2018 The Press-Dispatch The promoTion will run wednesday, november 21 deadline is wednesday, november 14 John Heuring Ad Manager 812-789-3671 Matt Haycraft Design & Sales 812-354-8500 Pam Lemond Ad Consultant 812-354-8500 Cindy Petty Ad Consultant 812-664-2359 CALL: 812-354-8500 FAX: 812-354-2014 ads@pressdispatch.net 820 Poplar St., Petersburg Black Black Here's an opportunity to capitalize on this year's Christmas buying season. The Christmas season is upon us, so this can be an opportunity to maintain sales by getting more out of the Thanksgiving weekend. All advertisers will be presented together under a common heading, giving the promotion more impact, plus you get spot color (purple) at no additional charge. plus SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY 2018 The pay increases for adminis- trators and non-certified person- nel – which are retroactive to the start of the 2018 -19 school year – followed on the heels of a similar pay increase awarded to the school corporation's certified staff as part of a collective bargaining agree- ment that was approved during the school board's October meeting. According to Blake, the last time Pike County School Corpo- ration personnel received a wage increase was a two-percent pay bump during the 2011-12 school year. A fter wages remained un- changed in 2012-13, employees saw their wages decrease by three percent in the 2013-14 school year. In 2014-15, wages returned to the 2012-13 level and had remained unchanged during the 2015 -2016, 2016 -2017 and 2017-2018 school years. "I feel like we've definitely turned the corner financially," Blake said. "I know I've said it be- fore – that there is a light at the end of the tunnel – but I'm very hap- py to be able to have the board ap- prove an increase for our employ- ees. I think we've weathered the storm, and I thank everybody for that." Blake also informed the school board that health insurance premi- ums in 2019 will remain the same as they were during 2018. "We were able to work with An- them, and we were able to hold our premiums at the same level, so it did not go up for any of the employees' contributions," Blake said. "The only part that caused an increase on Pike County Schools' contributions is the fact that we have increased enrollment. So, percentage-wise, the premium for both the school and the employee ... stayed the same for 2019." In a memo dated Nov. 1, Blake noted that the school corporation was currently in its open enroll- ment period. "Anyone wishing to change their enrollment plan should submit the changes by Nov. 16, 2018," Blake wrote. "Anyone who has a change in their plan will see the new pay- roll deduction begin on December 7, 2018." In an unrelated action, the school board approved a recom- mendation by Blake to make ret- roactive payments for the 2017- 2018 school year to the coaches of five middle school sports – base- ball, softball, boys' soccer, girls' soccer and boys' tennis – that were dropped as school-sponsored sports in 2015. "The amount to (be) paid is in accordance with the ECA stipend listed in the 2017-2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Pike County Teachers' Asso- ciation and the Pike County School Corporation," Blake's letter, dated Nov. 1, to the school board states. "This is a one-time payment and should not be construed as a rein- statement of any of the non-PAC MS Sports programs as a school- funded program at this time." Blake's recommendation was ap- proved by a 3-1 vote, with board president Chris Satterfield casting the dissenting vote. Blake also provided an update of the school corporation's various fund balances as of Oct. 31: • General Fund – $ 64,996.53. • Debt Service Fund – $214,599.95. • Retirement/Severance Bond Fund – $ 67,172.00. • Capital Projects Fund – mi- nus- $56,614.52. • Transportation Operating Fund – $2,903,213.52. • Bus Replacement Fund – $ 83,190.60. • Rainy Day Fund – $1,842,091.84. • School Lunch Fund – $150,181.54. • Self Insurance Fund – $1,238,594.73. "A note on the Capital Projects (Fund) with the negative, there are some items out for reimburse- ment on some of our grant expens- es," Blake said. "That should bring that back up into the black when we get that squared away." In addition, Blake reported that the school corporation had received a quarterly payment of $1,122.22 from German American Bank as part of the bank's School Spirit Card Program. "If you remember, first quar- ter was $551.70 and second quar- ter was $ 865.94," Blake said. "So people are swiping those cards." "And just think," Blake added, "Christmas hasn't hit yet." The school board also accepted the following donations: • A donation from the Commis- sion to End Drug Abuse (CEDA) in Pike County to Winslow Ele- mentary School in the amount of $430.45 toward expenses for Red Ribbon Week. • A donation from the U.S. De- partment of Defense to the Pike Central High School First Robot- ics team in the amount of $2,500. "The grant was awarded by the Department of Defense, with Stewart Henson being our con- tact through Crane that took care of the majority of the grant appli- cation," PCSC director of technol- ogy Phil Clauss wrote in a letter addressed to Blake and the school board dated Oct. 31. "There will not be any money sent to the dis- trict. The funds are being applied to our FIRST account for registra- tion." • A donation from the Indiana Retired Teachers Association to the Petersburg Elementary School robotics team in the amount of $500, which will be used to pur- chase two laptop computers. • A donation from Toyota to Pe- tersburg Elementary School third grade teacher Michelle Bennett in the amount of $4,760 to purchase Chromebooks and a charging cart. The school board also approved an adjustment to the number of days worked and the salary paid to the school corporation's direc- tor of transportation and support services. "I'm recommending that we ad- just the number of days for the di- rector of transportation and sup- port services from 240 days and extend it to 260 days," Blake said. "And then that would be reflect- ed by an increase in his salary to $ 60,000." The school board also approved the following personnel matters: RESIGNATIONS • Judy Richardson as a special services/remediation instructor at Winslow Elementary School, effective Nov. 2. • Oraletta Earles as a bus driv- er, effective Nov. 9. APPOINTMENTS • Jodie Elkins as Academic Ath- letic Coordinator at Pike Central High School. • Jeanie Newkirk to fill in for a maternity leave at Petersburg El- ementary School, starting Jan. 2, 2019, and lasting approximately nine weeks. • Alan Woodford and Mary Wethington as girls' basketball coaches at Petersburg Elementa- ry School for the 2018 -19 sports season. • Chris McDowell and Bri- an Frederick as boys' basketball coaches at Petersburg Elementa- ry School for the 2018 -19 sports season. • Jennifer Houchins and Kristy McGillem as cheerleading coaches at Petersburg Elementary School for the 2018 -19 sports season. • Kena Kirby as a homebound instructor for a high school student for approximately five hours per week, effective Oct. 17, through the end of the 2018 -19 school year. • Emily Wheeling as a spe- cial education teaching assistant at Winslow Elementary School for the remainder of the 2018 -19 school year. • Jamie Wiscaver as a spe- cial education teaching assistant at Winslow Elementary School for the remainder of the 2018 -19 school year. • Josh Brown as a volunteer as- sistant varsity wrestling coach at Pike Central High School. • Josh Popp as an assistant var- sity wrestling coach (1/2 stipend) at Pike Central High School. • John Thompson as an assis- tant varsity wrestling coach (1/2 stipend) at Pike Central High School. • Joe Chamberlain as assistant cross country coach at Pike Cen- tral Middle School. • Joe Chamberlain as freshman boys' basketball coach at Pike Cen- tral High School. • Chris Collins as eighth grade boys' basketball coach at Pike Cen- tral Middle School. • Mark Giesler as seventh grade boys' basketball coach at Pike Cen- tral Middle School. • Bob Collins as sixth grade boys' basketball coach at Pike Cen- tral Middle School. • Trent Whitehead as varsity girls' basketball assistant coach at Pike Central High School. • Chris Render as sponsor of ro- botics club at Pike Central High School. • Nikki Nalley as sponsor of ro- botics club at Pike Central Middle School. • Terra Knust as sponsor of ro- botics club at Petersburg Elemen- tary School. • Rebecca Corbin as sponsor of robotics club at Winslow Elemen- tary School. RAISES Continued from page 1