Yuma School District-1 settled on a salary schedule for the 2023-24 school year, during the board of education’s regular monthly meeting, Monday night in the board room at the district office.
Board members Duane Brown, Terri Cooper, Lindsey Galles and John Deering were in attendance, while Thomas Holtorf participated via phone.
The salary decision for instructional staff and classified employees came after budget planning discussion.
Superintendent Dianna Chrisman told the board that the increase in funding for Yuma-1 in the School Finance Act is going to be considerably more than in most years.
She provided the board three options for pay increases in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
The first option was a base salary of $39,000 — the current base salary is $37,000 — and a 5-percent raise for classified staff.
The second option was $39,500 base and 5.5-percent raise for classified.
The third option was $40,000 base salary and 6-percent raise for classified.
That was the one recommended by Chrisman, and it was the option the board approved on a 5-0 vote.
Health insurance renewal also was on the agenda.
Chrisman told the board that current carrier, United Health Care, had presented an increase that would cost the district approximately $200,000 more in 2023-24. However, the district shopped around and received a proposal from CIGNA that would cost the district just about $8,100 compared to this year’s premiums.
The board was told it would be the same plan model, and deductibles would be the same. The board unanimously approved going with CIGNA.
It also approved moving forward with getting out the 2023-24 certified contracts, after approving the salary structure and health insurance.
Public comment
Gloria Taylor addressed the board during Visitors Comments.
She said she had a concern about the district handled getting out word about a perceived threat at Yuma Middle School earlier this month. She said parents were informed about it as it happened. The only communication was through a Facebook post jointly made by Yuma-1 and the Yuma Police Department.
Taylor said she also had a concern that paras do not have a key to get kids into a room, in the case of a threatening situation.
Chrisman addressed the YMS situation later in the meeting during her report. She said the situation fell under the “important” category and an “emergency.”
“There was no threat, there was no emergency,” she said.
She added that parents will receive a reverse call if there is a real emergency.
Chrisman said the district always is working with the YPD and other area agencies on improving responses to such situations
More meeting
The board unanimously approved a proclamation for Staff Appreciation Week, May 1-5.
The following was approved as part of the Consent Calendar:
Donations — $500 from the Community Cupboard for the YHS choir; $100 from Quality Irrigation for special education; $50 from Threshers for special education; $693.54 from Jared Coughlin for boys basketball postseason travel; $100 from Bank of Colorado, $50 from Nau Hardware, $50 from Korf Continental, $100 from Wildlee, and $50 from Jay Flaming for a special education field day.
Recommended hirings were for Brandon Newton as YHS vocational instructor, and Sherelle Winger as YHS girls golf volunteer coach.
Recommended separations and resignations were for: Peggy Traphagan, YMS fifth and sixth grade English teacher transition; Emily Araiza as MES music teacher, Miguel Araiza as YMS and YHS choir teacher, and Bailee Clarkson, YHS registrar/counselor assistant.
The Yuma FFA trip to the State FFA CDE’s in Fort Collins, April 30-May 1 was approved.
One policy update for professional staff salaries was approved on second reading.
The board’s next regular meeting will be May 22.