SIKESTON -- Sikeston R-6 employees will receive a slight increase in their paychecks for the 2004-2005 school year. Members of the Sikeston R-6 Board of Education voted in favor of amending the district's budget to include a 1 percent across the board raise for its certified and noncertified staff.
In addition, certified and noncertified staff members who have maxed out on the salary schedule due to their number of years of service were also given a 1 percent raise.
Those who have maxed out on the salary schedule include certified staff members with a master's degree plus 16 years of service to the district and those with a master's degree plus 32 years, Superintendent Steve Borgsmiller explained. Noncertified staff members who maxed out on the salary schedule range from 31-36 years of service, he added. Borgsmiller reminded the board the budget presented and approved last month was squeezed down with a balance of $400,000.
"With that -- even going into fiscal year '06 -- the picture may not be as rosy as it is right now, and I can almost guarantee that it won't be," Borgsmiller commented. "But I think we're in a position, due to our funding balances, that I feel very comfortable recommending to the board to give all certified and noncertified staff a raise."
In other business Tuesday, Stephanie Reddick, curriculum director, reported on the district's 2004 summer school program, which ended July 2 for grades kindergarten through 12. Each program provided reinforcement for students, she said. Enrollment was 1,027 students districtwide with the average daily attendance at 86 percent. Preimposed testing was administered for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and credit recovery was offered for grades 9-12.
"For grades K-8, reading increased 7.8 percent in summer school across the district, and math was nearly 10 percent higher from the preimposed tests," Reddick noted.
Test results indicated students that had a smaller class size and a greater opportunity to do more hands on and exploratory activities were very successful, Reddick said. Principals also felt it was an rewarding experience for the students, she said.
"Students had more one-on-one attention and teachers could work on some of those skills they felt students were lower in and try to bring them back up to grade level," Reddick said.
At the high school level, 263 students were in enrolled in summer school and over 10 percent met requirements needed for gradation. Reddick also said the program was very successful. Again, students gained more knowledge from a smaller classroom size and activity instruction, she pointed out.
Borgsmiller reported Sikeston R-6 passed the annual state bus inspection with a score of 100 percent.
"This is a nice and important thing for bus safety," Borgsmiller said, commending Randy Thompson, director of transportation, and Ron Hampton, chief mechanic. "They do a super job."
Larry Bohannon, assistant superintendent of secondary education and professional development, pointed out new teacher orientation is scheduled for Aug. 9-10 and back-to-school orientation for teachers is Aug. 16-18. Borgsmiller also noted the Missouri School Boards' Association Regional Conference will be Sept. 22 at Southeast Elementary.