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editor@newslj.com May 7, 2015 -- 9
news letter journal NeWS
One step ahead
Denice Pisciotti/NLJ
Newcastle High School seniors Hannah Williams and Jordan Brooks have been working
hard to earn an Interdisciplinary Associates of Art degree from EWC while at the same
time earning their diploma from NHS. Williams will receive 64 credit hours and Brooks
will receive 60 credits before they walk across the stage at Crouch Auditorium to receive
their high school diploma on Sunday, May 17, and they will also be attending the EWC
commencement ceremony on Friday, May 8 at the college's Fine Arts Auditorium in
Torrington.
from page 1 ...............................................................................................................................................
to the budget and the projected decreases of is the base. It is really a recruiting tool," he
$421,227.35. reasoned.
The board reviewed the projected cost of a For certified teaching positions, adding to
base wage increase for 81 certified staff (pri- the base also helps retain instructors because
madly classroom teachers) that ranged from those raises trickle up through every step of the
$1,500, $2,000 and $2,500 annual raises for pay scale. The last time the base was increased
each individual, and elected to give an increase was in the 2011-2012 school year by $1,500. In
of $2,500. the three years since the base salary of teachers
For the 79 hourly, or classified, employees was last increased here, the board has approved
(maintenance, custodial, teacher's aids, etc.) the raises based on experience in the district. Years
board chose between raises of 55 cents, 65 cents of service to the district are figured in steps, and
and 75 cents per hour, and elected to favor the educational experience is tracked in lanes, with a
mid-range raise and give a 65 cent an hour raise raise coming at each milestone. In order to ensure
to those employees. The last time that group was that all staff members received raises this year,
granted a raise in their base salaries, it was for 75 an increase to the base was needed because it
cents an hour in 2011-2012. includes staff that are at the top step or lane and
The significant raises also came as a result of cannot advance higher on the scale, informed
the district choosing to "pass on" the mandated the superintendent. In addition to approving the
employee share of state retirement. Previously, increase to the base, the board also approved
as a benefit, WCSD #1 had paid the employee's paying steps and lanes again this year for certi-
portion of the retirement increase, but the board fled staff and steps for classified staff members.
chose last year pass the 1.03 percent that is not They also added substitute bus drivers to the list
reimbursed to the district on to the employees, of people eligible for raises based on experience.
They subsequently made the same choice this The district's leaders don't benefit directly
year, with a 1.025 percent retirement increase, from steps and lanes, as administrators and direc-
and the employees will also see an increase in tors are not given raises for years of experience
what they pay for health insurance. Trustees or increased educational experience. For the next
expressed a desire to increase the base salary for school year, the board approved a $4,000 raise to
all positions by enough to guarantee that every- administrators and directors, and increased the
body would still get more take home pay next superintendent's salary by $6,000. An additional
year, even with increased payroll deductions. $1,000 was recommended and approved for the
Prior to the wage increases approved for next district's speech therapist and psychologist, and
year, on the statewide teacher pay scale the dis- the superintendent explained that both positions
trict was ranked number 23 out of the 48 school also Offer advancements in steps.
districts in base salary offered to teachers, and the The trustees also approved paying a third
board hopes the raises will improve the district's of the salary required to continue the Youth
position on that chart. It was argued that being Service Program, in conjunction with the City of
comparable in base salary is important to attract a Newcastle and Weston County.
quality applicant pool for openings, and LaCroix "Overall, I think it is a great effort to try to
admitted the district has been fortunate to attract keep Weston County School Distdb "#1 a good
and retain valuable staff to this point, place to work and a good place to, number one.
"In my opinion, the first thing you look at educate children. Because that is really what we
when you are a rookie coming out of college are here for," concluded LaCroix.
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mon Rolh, Coffee, Fellowehip & Fun!
Every Friday at the 2enior O, enter
Weston County Senior Center
627 Pine St.
746-4903
Visit us online at www.newslj.com!
.gummer Preschool
Enrichment for
Kindergatrten
Readiness
Weston County Children's Center in
Newcastle is now enrolling children ages 3
through 5 for summer preschool enrichment.
Applications may be picked up at 104 Stampede.
Scholarships are available
for income eligible families.
For more information, contact Jane or Sarah at 746-4560
Funding provided by Weston County Early Childhood Community
Partnership Grant. Equal Opportunity Provider
NLJ deadlines are Fridays at 5 pm
YDI'
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We take pride in the people who safely transport the children of
Tha@ Yau our community every day. Their commitment to getting kids to and
from school and various activities is vital to our children's success
and their compassion and understanding improves the lives of the
children they see at the start of every day.
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Mark Peterson- Transportation Director, Adam Egging- Mechanic, Tomi
Yeager- Secretary, Bill Simmons- Transportation Assistant and all our drivers,
Mabell Aldridge, Kathy Hepker, Kim Holmes, Bev Krell, Randy Giesinger,
Marilyn Lunney, Patty Dryer, Christy Stith, Tonya Crawford, Lynn Schleicher,
Dave Taylor, and Dave Whitford for what you do for children.
nah