Urbana City Schools teachers will receive a salary increase for the upcoming school year.
The school board approved a 1.5 percent base salary increase for the Urbana Association of Classroom Teachers (UACT) through a Memorandum of Understanding at its Tuesday board meeting.
The school board also approved the school calendar for the upcoming school year and approved other staff contracts.
The UACT salary memorandum was due to language in the teachers’ union contract allowing for salary negotiations in the final year of the three-year contract, Urbana Superintendent Charles Thiel said. The agreement also allows for one step recovery for staff who have had three step freezes. The MOU was approved 4-0, with board member Tim Lacy abstaining.
The approved school calendar has school starting Aug. 24 and ending May 24. The calendar gives more time during the summer for construction of the high school, Thiel said. The calendar allows making up missed calamity days in January or February with two weeks advance notice. Any additional make-up days would be added at the end of the school year.
The school board also approved a two-year contract with High School Assistant Principal Matthew Triplett, beginning the 2016-17 school year. Triplett’s current salary is $63,440, Treasurer Mandy Hildebrand said. The salary schedule for administrators for the upcoming school year has not yet been set.
The board also approved having the board review the current grading and assessment policy.
In other action, the board:
•Approved donations of $8,756 from the Urbana Athletic Boosters to the Urbana High School Athletic Department; Preschool Vision Screening Equipment valued at $625.20 from Urbana Lions Club to Urbana North Elementary; professional resources books and student reading books valued at $400 from Susan Headley to Urbana East Elementary; $223.85 from Kroger Rewards Program to Urbana High School French Club; $50 from Phillips Family Trust to Urbana Lunch Bus Program; $100 from Relay for Life Performance to Urbana East Elementary Show Choir; $156.16 from Target Red Card/Take Charge of Education Program to Urbana North, Urbana East and Urbana High School; $60 from Amy Bosworth to Urbana High School Band; $1,000 from First Presbyterian Church to the Urbana Junior High Kirkmont Program; $2,400 total from Craig Meredith, Mike Major, the Rex Ponn Foundation, KTH and Peoples Bank to the Urbana Junior High National History Day; $1,875 total from the Rittenhouse Family, the Souders Family, the Arnold Family, the Rees Family, Menasha Corporation Foundation, and the Rod Bauer Memorial 4-H Fund to Urbana High School FFA; $112.93 from pass the can concert donations to Urbana Sixth Grade Band; $200 from Mr. and Mrs. Mike Mays to the Urbana High School Academic Banquet; $200 from the Evans Family to the Urbana High School Choir; $4,911.85 total from Lifetouch (school pictures) to Urbana North, Urbana South, Urbana Junior High and Urbana East.
•Accepted resignations of teachers Jeffrey Bumgardner and Melanie Eckert, effective the end of the 2015-16 school year; teacher Andy Crabill, effective June 14, 2016; NHS Advisor Katie Miller, effective the end of the 2015-16 school year; Junior High Assistant Football Coach Michael White, High School Wrestling Coach Ryan Pine, Substitute Bus Driver Phillip Kellenbarger, and Junior High Assistant Football Coach William Moss, all effective immediately; and substitute teacher Judy Woodgeard, effective June 30, 2016.
•Approved teacher Gina Lingrell for summer school 2016.
•Approved bus driver Misty Nigh for the 2016-17 school year.
•Approved teacher Ryan Swain for the 2016-17 school year.
•Approved hiring Head High School Wrestling Coach Sam Harris at Step 0, Assistant High School Girls Basketball Coach Mike White at Step 0, and Head Junior High Football Coach William Moss at Step 2, for the 2016-17 school year.
•Authorized the advertising for bids for the supply and installation of mulch district-wide.
