The initial 2021-22 staffing proposal and budget framework headlined the Neenah Joint School District Board of Education meeting on March 2.
The staffing proposal included few changes for the upcoming school year. In certified staff changes, there is a proposed .24 FTE increase at the secondary level to account for a daily schedule change at Shattuck Middle School. There is a proposed reduction of a 1.0 FTE secondary music teacher due to a decrease in enrollment in music courses.
Additionally, the Board previously approved an Equity and Inclusion Coordinator and an Equity and Inclusion Instructional Coach. Several Board members asked about whether those positions were the best use of resources and wondered about outsourcing the positions. It was noted that the District has a designated amount of federal grant money it must spend toward improving equity and administration considered this the most efficient and productive way to spend the money.
In non-certified staffing, the proposal includes the reduction of the high school substitute coordinator/administrative assistant/health aide position and the merger of the District office receptionist and psychology department administrative assistant positions.
The budget framework is an early look at the spending for 2021-22. There are no major changes to the budget. Much of it is unpredictable due to uncertainty in state funding and District enrollment. The Board focused most of its discussion around mental health services funding.
The staffing proposal and budget framework will be voted upon at the next meeting on March 16.
In action items, the Board approved salary increases for the District Director of Facilities/Engineer and open position of Director of Business Services. The change brings the salaries closer to counterparts in other local districts as well as other Neenah administrators. It also is intended to help locate a better candidate for the business services position.
Hires were approved for Taft educational/health assistants Jessica Pena-O’Connell and Amanda Ikkala. The end-of-year resignation of Coolidge educational/health assistant Kim Clohessy was also approved.
Senior Megan O’Keefe was honored for her success as the top speaker at the recent state debate tournament and assistant coach Kaija Snyder was honored as the state’s Coach of the Year. Junior Destinee Ramos also attended her first meeting as a student representative.
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