The Smith-Green teachers are concerned about what they say is a lack of support from Smith-Green administration for the support staff who are employed at all three schools.

That was the opening sentence of a statement read to the board of school trustees Monday night by Keston Smith, co-president of the Churubusco Teachers Association, and Janet Thomas, co-vice president of the group.

“It is our understanding that the administration is not solidly considering compensation rates for these staff people and more job cuts are threatened,” Smith said. “The board’s stance is lowering morale and affecting the mission of teachers and that of the whole school corporation.

We teachers need committed and skillful instructional assistants, maintenance workers, administrative assistants and bus drivers,” Smith went on to say. “Job cuts and stagnant compensation undermine the quality of our schools. It is unconscionable for administrators and teachers to receive raises in this economy and the needs of the support staff fall in disregard.”

Adam Skiles, director of business and technology, said the corporation had already budgeted the funds that went toward settling the teachers’ contract, which was recently ratified. The teachers received a 1.75 raise in salaries along with insurance benefits in the new contract.

“We try to see that the staff is compensated accordingly,” Skiles said.

Superintendent Carol Kaiser also addressed Smith’s and Thomas’ statement. “We are looking closely at financing and we continue to do so,” Kaiser said. “We appreciate what everyone does, and we want to make an intelligent and prudent choice for our district.”

She added that last year - when the teachers’ contract was up in the air and had yet to be settled - that the support staff received a 1 percent raise.

“Schools are essentially people,” Smith said, “students, teachers, administrative personnel and those who support them. All require a just return for their work.”

Smith and Thomas said they and the other teachers in the CTA group recommended that the administration and school board re-examine the budget, especially the level of the monthly cash balance, and find room for salary increases for the support staff.

Serving as president of the CTA along with Smith is Mark Cheshire. Serving as co-vice president is Dan Hile. 

In other school board news:

• The school board voted 3-0 to appoint Michael Sturgis to replace board member Brandon Almas, who resigned this summer to pursue a law degree at Indiana University. The board interviewed two candidates - Sturgis and Paula Grawcock - in August. The term will expire December 31, but since no one has filed in the South District to run against Sturgis in the November election, he will go on to fulfill a four-year term beginning January 1, 2009.
  

  New head wrestling coach Sam Reisen
   Board president Tanya Young said the board had talked to both candidates about the possibility of continuing for another full term before the decision was made.
• Sam Reisen was hired as the high school wrestling coach for the 2008-09 school year.
• The board approved the reassignment of custodian David Fletter to first shift custodian/supervisor with an increase of $1 per hour.
• A family/medical leave was approved for middle school social studies teacher, Wendy Sieber. The leave began Aug. 14 and will continue to Nov. 7.
• Claims were approved as follows: regular claims, $133,588; prepaid, $2,458; payroll, $127,961; total, $264,007.