Select WW staff see raises

During their Tuesday, July 24 meeting, the West Washington school board approved pay increases and changes to the classified benefits.

They authorized a 5 percent increase for several positions. Those and the new salaries are: Superintendent Keith Nance ($102,375), Jr./Sr. High School Principal Mary Anne Knapp ($84,000), Elementary Principal Tom Rosenbaum ($82,014.87), AD Philip Bowsman ($40,000.28), nurse Dawn Woods ($34,999.81)and IT Coordinator Rob Batchelor ($42,840). Board member Doug Brown noted this is the first increase in several years for some of these positions. The contracts of Knapp, Rosenbaum and Nance were also extended through the 2019-20 school year.

Nance also recommended the school’s two social workers receive the same increase the teachers receive yearly, so both Christi Arney and Rosie Morehous will see a salary increase from $35,000 to $36,200. 

Hourly staff will see a 10-cent increase, with 10 cents extra for every five consecutive years employed at the school.

Board member Sal Sama moved to update the classified benefits, removing the 60-day probationary period for new hires. Beginning pay will be based off the classified employee payment schedule and ALT days will be available at hire and 12-month new hires will have five vacation days. Vacation days will be pro-rated if employment is terminated within the first year. Every school year, these employees will see a 10-cent increase for every hour. 

Bus drivers will also see a $5 daily increase, along with an extra $1 for every five years of consecutive employment. Bus drivers will also see a $1 per-year increase every year starting with the 2019-20 school year. 

Sama moved to increase classified and certified substitute teachers by $10 each, bringing certified substitute pay to $85 and classified substitutes to $75. He further moved to designate a permanent substitute that reports daily at the substitute rate with no benefits or days.

All these motions were passed unanimously.