Monday evening, the Superior Board of Education unanimously approved the 2024-2025 negotiated agreement with the Superior Education Association. The base salary increased $800. Thus, a beginning first year teacher will start at $38,800 for a 185 day contract. All other steps of the salary schedule are a percentage of the base salary. For a limited time, each year of experience increases a teacher’s salary by four percent and completing nine approved college hours increase a teacher’s salary five percent. The highest salary on the salary schedule represents someone who had taught 16 years and completed a master’s degree plus 36 hours. They would earn $77,600 next year.

Extra duty assignments are also compensated as a percent of the base salary. For example, head coaches (category one) of major sports with six years of experience receive 15.5 percent of the base salary for coaching. In general, the percent of compensation does not increase after six years of coaching. All extra duty activities assigned to one of eight categories. A first year class sponsor (category eight), for example, would receive 1.5 percent of base for the extra duty assignment.

Next year, the weekly schedule will once again include early outs on Friday, with school being dismissed at 2:30 p.m., something teachers had requested.

A benefit package which which includes health, dental and disability insurance for the fiscal year is paid by the district in addition to the salary.

The board accepted the resignation of Paul Heusinkvelt. effective at the end of the current school year. He has served the district as the head football coach in addition to other coaching and teaching responsibilities.

January expenditures from the general fund in the amount of $563,152.63 were approved. It was noted utility expenditures from Dec. 15 to Jan.15 were $2,000 higher primarily for gas and electricity. The cost was attributed to the January cold snap.

An elementary principal’s contract was extended to Jody Fierstein. Salary will be determined later. Supt. John Whetzal asked for the board of education to wait until March to determine salaries of non-certified staff and the elementary principal. He is reworking duty assignments and will keep board members informed with a weekly memo.

Board members also approved the 2024-25 school calendar. The first day of school for students is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15. Underclassmen will finish the year on Thursday, May 23. Graduation is scheduled for Saturday, May 10. The schedule includes a two week break at Christmas and a week long spring break in March.

Sarah Fuller reported on her work with the “Grow Your Own” curriculum. “Grow Your Own” is designed to help students explore a career in education. Fuller is working with three students: two second year students and one first. There are 12 schools in Nebraska involved with the program. The program is designed to address the teacher shortage in Nebraska especially in special education by sparking student interest in education at the high school level.

During the elementary principal report, Jodi Fierstein, talked about professional development and the use of testing data. The elementary school continues to be part of the WORDS project, which includes professionals coming onsite to train, mentor and assess instruction.

Fierstein, also reported, the school had applied for and expects to receive a school mental health grant from the state which is funded by ESSER. It is hoped nearly $40,000 for both the elementary and secondary school will be funded. The money must be used within six months and will be used to strengthen the program already in place with professional development, screening tools and curriculum resources. When asked about legislative debate in the unicameral, Supt. Whetzal said he expects a three percent tax cap increase to be implemented and for tax incentive for private school to become as reality in the next year or two.

He also reported the school is in process of changing web providers. He expects the new system will be less expensive and more user friendly.

Supt. Whetzal also reported the school had applied for and received a $7,500 grant to purchase shop equipment and a table saw that functions properly and is safer for students.

A leased skid loader has arrived and will allow the school to get rid of other equipment since it will do the job of multiple equipment items currently owned by the school.

State aid is expected to increase $122,225 this next school year. Supt. Whetzal expects to attend two budget workshops.

The condition of high school parking lot and related water drainage continues to be of concern. Supt. Whetzal has contacted to the City of Superior to get a price on chip sealing when the city is doing streets. He said, “Repaving would be nice, but there are higher priorities currently and chip sealing would be a great improvement in the meantime.”

The incumbent filing deadline is today (Thursday). During discussion there was indication Matt Sullivan plans to retire from the board.

The daycare center has an official advisory board and 501c3 paperwork is nearing completing. The next step is to hire a director.

Reinke Manufacturing will send an instructor to teach an advanced welding class next year. They will also save scrap metal which students can use. Supt. Whetzal said, “I am super excited. We will be the furtherest west satellite for Reinke Manufacturering. A 18 year-old could work there immediately after high school and have a good paying job.”

The first ESL (English as a second language) student has moved into the Superior school district. “We will need to get some processes in place,” Whetzal said. The district has one staff member fluent in Spanish and ESU9 is assisting.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 7, because one or two of board members may be gone during spring break the following week. The meeting lasted nearly an hour and was not followed by an executive session.Te