Board member Carol Tracy Carr asked about this figure and Superintendent, Gena Keller explained that it was to cover employee health insurance. Carr asked about donating money.
“Donations can be used for the students or specified program but not health insurance, this is something we have to provide,” said Keller. Keller added that taxes are used for covering employee benefits. “It is risky and a one-time donation is appreciated to offset costs temporarily but we need to look at the long term.”
Breslauer also added that in fiscal year 2013, they would incorporate the 1.1 percent salary increase approved in May. Superintendent Keller’s contract is also up for renewal and the board asked for an amendment to be added to her contract reflecting the additional 1.1 percent salary increase to offset the Virginia Retirement System contribution. Keller’s salary will be raised from $128,000 to $129,408.
In other business, the new high school is near completion and the parking lots should be completed by August 4, if not sooner. Most of the furniture and equipment has been delivered and installed.
Regarding staffing the high school, two new positions in technical education, two positions in guidance and four custodians are looking to be hired. In the technical education department, an instructor has been hired for nursing in the health occupations and they are still waiting on a potential instructor for the culinary arts.
Photographer David Stemple, who visited the new high school 62 times during its construction, ended up with 13,600 photos which he gave to Principal Jim Barlow.
