The West Nodaway R-I Board of Education met in open and two closed sessions on March 8 to handle the following school district business:

In the second closed session of the evening, the board unanimously rehired Tonya Bell, Kendall Carpenter, Terry Clark, Jennifer Downing, Michael Goff, Nicki Honan, Anita Nordbye, Jennifer McGinness, Becca Ridnour, Julie Romig and Gretchen Wehmeyer for the 2017-18 school year.

Superintendent Shannon Nolte wants the board to consider sitting on classes for a day to observe. He proposed board members observe veteran teachers for one to two hours, two times a year.

The middle school teachers have started sending a weekly email letter to parents to keep them informed.

The CTA salary committee has worked on recommendations for the salary review the board will undertake in April. Currently, WN ranks 15 out of 20 area schools on base salary. This is up from the 2013-14 year when the school ranked 19.

A staff survey ranked giving frozen steps back to certified employees as the top recommendation. In the 2003-04 and 2011-12 school years, the board froze the step pay increase due to budgetary concerns. Twelve staff members would be bumped two steps and three would be bumped one.

The second recommendation was to increase the amount of each step. This would reward the veteran teachers more than new staff, but would help WN maintain quality staff.

The third recommendation was to raise the $30,250 base pay. Other suggestions included giving an extra day off after five years of service and raising the amount the school pays on health insurance for each employee.

On non-certified or hourly staff, it was suggested to give a dollar amount increase instead of a percentage increase on wages. Also, it was recommend that full-time employees be able to roll over vacation days to sick leave instead of losing the day if it’s not taken.

The 2017-18 school calendar was amended to make August 11 a staff development day instead of August 14 and to have parent teacher conferences on February 22, 2018.

A letter estimating the school district tax rate for 2017 was sent to County Clerk Karen Leader. The rate is estimated to be $4.0693 per $100 valuation. The tax rate will be set at the August board meeting.

Nine board policy updates were given to the board members for review before the April meeting. The policies are all mandatory.

The West Nodaway senior class trip was approved. The trip will be from Monday, May 8 through Thursday, May 11. The class will be going to Branson, staying at the Grand Oaks Hotel and visiting Silver Dollar City, the Branson Landing, Dixie Stampede Dinner Show and other activities.

The 2016-17 budget was amended. In revenues, a $1,200 grant was added and the 21st Century Grant was corrected to show the actual figure of $100,021 instead of the estimated $133,138. In expenses, corrections and additions were made mainly in salaries, wages and benefits. Vo-Tech monies were increased to $27,600 from $15,000 because of larger numbers of students taking the classes.