School Board Wrap-up: Two Items Tabled, New Member Sworn In

New board member Ron Fedorchak was officially sworn in Thursday at the Mehlville school board meeting and saw two agenda items tabled after discussion. 

During a second vote to delay a decision, the board moved 4-3 to table raising classified staff pay by 1 percent until the board retreat Aug. 13. Board members Venki Palamand, Tom Diehl and Larry Felton were opposed, meaning they wanted to vote on passing the raise. 

Chief Financial Officer Noel Knobloch presented the board with an option to give classified staff a 1 percent pay raise due to extra funds and reduced expenses from the 2010-2011 school year. Classified staff are hourly district employees without teaching certificates, namely bus drivers, custodial and aide staff. The raise would total $120,000 plus $15,000 in payroll taxes and benefits in district costs. 

Knobloch said it was a matter of fairness, since all certified employees received a pay increase for the 2011-2012 school year as required by a memorandum of understanding between the Mehlville National Education Association (MNEA) and the board. 

According to the agreement, if projected revenues exceed $500,000, half of the extra funds must be put toward teacher salaries. 

The excess funds come from an increase in state sales tax revenue and a state formula payout that was left over from the 2009-2010 school year for English Language Learner enrollment. 

While the district is not legally required to give this increase to classified employees, Knobloch said it was typical practice to give a raise to classified employees if certified staff received one. But board members Elaine Powers and Mark Stoner questioned if the money should be used for something else. Rich Franz and Fedorchak also voted to delay a decision. 

The board also tabled modifying board policies at the recommendation of the Missouri School Board Association. The policies concern family and medical leave, short term leave and absences and support staff short term leave and absences. 

Powers pointed out that the policies presented in the board information booklet had 2008 dates on them and were different from the 2010 policies previously given to the board at the June meeting. Because of the discrepancy, the board decided to table voting to change the policy. 

Editor's Note: Look for a follow-up next week on Patch about the decision to delay a vote for the classified staff pay increase.