Teacher salary raises approved

POTOMAC - At their Feb. 8 meeting, the Potomac School Board voted four to one to approve the Potomac Education Association (PEA) contract for 2021-2023. This new contract would result in a $4,024.25 salary raise for all teachers regardless of experience. In other business, the board approved the permissive levy, continued working through policy updates and the eighth grade class provided an update on their class trip.

Principal John Rouse said that Gov. Greg Gianforte intends to increase starting teacher pay through House Bill 143 which adds incentives for districts to increase starting teacher pay by reimbursing them for teachers with three years or less of experience. To receive aid however, the starting teacher salary has to reach a statewide minimum of $35,185 which Potomac was previously short of by $4,000. The school could receive around $7,000 in reimbursement.

According to Board Chair Cliff Vann, around 80% of the school’s budget is intended to pay for staff with the remaining 20% going towards expenses like heating, phone bills and the lease. Trustee Wes Mitchell said in the first year the school would be at less than 78.8% of its general fund, which is below the cap. In the second year, the percentage would barely surpass the limit.

“I just want to make sure that we all understand how … we started getting to this realization that this was doable was because of the deferred maintenance fund because that money is not counted,” Mitchell said. “So where you’re at 82% and 83% of the true budget, that maintenance money is not factored into that. So we’re below the cap.”

According to Vann, the deferred maintenance fund has had a great impact on the school’s general fund.

“With the deferred maintenance setup that the state allows now, we’re getting ahead on upgrading this place faster than I think any of us thought that we would,” he said.

Trustee Courtney Hathaway said if the school finds itself in a “tough spot” in the coming years, then a mill levy vote could take place to create additional revenue.

Board member Kelsy Ployhar questioned the sustainability of the school’s budget with the increase.

“I guess even trying to wrap my head around a $4,000 increase for everyone is rather large compared to what we’ve been able to do in the past,” she said. “And I know we have had several years where we’re in pretty good situations because of the grant money and now it’s even more because of all of the money from the pandemic. But the teaching staff alone is a $60,000 increase per year. That’s not just a one-time thing, that’s per year. Three, four years down the road if we see our student numbers decline, we’re going to have to cut staff.”

Vann responded that the school would be willing to make “hard decisions” regarding staff cuts.

“I don’t see that as cause to be conservative now and not pay the folks that are on our staff as well as we can afford to,” he said.

While the motion passed it was not unanimous with Ployhar dissenting. Vann had hoped that the contract would have passed unanimously.

“Consensus is ... a goal that’s worthwhile,” Vann said. “Kelsy, … if you don’t find what we’re outlining here compelling, I’ll go back to the negotiating table. ... To me, this isn’t a vote, this is a do we feel good about this or should we go back and renegotiate. ... I know that we’ve put time into this, but for the district to be on the same page is really important here to me.”

Ployhar responded that she is okay with everyone “not being all in agreeance on it” but she wants to know that the school has “a certain amount of money” to not have to rely on levies.

“I don’t want to go back and ask the community for more money,” she said. “I don’t want to rely on grants. If we get those things, great, we can look at how we can give some money in a different way and not have it be added on to the salary. Again, I think that everyone deserves it … but ... me personally, I’m not comfortable giving that as a salary.

The 2021-2022 Principal Contract and the 2021-2023 Potomac Association of Classified Employees (PACE) Contract were both tabled for next month because the PEA Contract determined the outcome of the others. 

During his report, Rouse spoke about the school’s implementation of the Gradual Release of Responsibility instructional framework into the curriculum specifically in regard to summarizing lessons. Strategies instructors can use in lessons include recapping key points, having students restate points in their own words, tying points to previous material or personal experiences and requiring individual responses to a question before students exit the classroom.

Members voted four to one to pass a permissive levy with Trustee Gary Long opposing. The resolution estimates changes in revenues, mills from transportation, tuition and Building Reserve Permissive Levies and allows the board to levy an increase in taxes without a vote. The final amounts to be levied for the next fiscal year will be published in the Missoulian sometime in March.

The School Board then unanimously approved the first reading of policy updates for student discipline, conduct on school property, personal conduct, drug-free workplace and fundraising notice. Policy updates for visitor and spectator conduct were also approved 4-1 but Long voted in opposition due to legality wording around marijuana.

Eighth grade students presented updates on their fundraising efforts towards their Canyonlands National Park class trip. So far they have raised $27,465 to fund their estimated expenses of $23,834. They have also planned out their itinerary which includes riding zip lines, hiking Arches National Park and taking an overnight rafting trip.

The board praised them for their fundraising efforts because the surplus revenue will go towards funding trips for future classes.

“It looks like you guys are paying it forward a little bit if those balances continue to check out,” Vann said. “That’s always been one of the cool things about this is if you’re successful, you can help those classes behind you. And I think every year more and more kids hit this thing knowing that they can do it.”

In other business the Board unanimously approved:

• Appointing Michael Miller as substitute custodian.

• A Professional Services Contract with Seth Martin of Computer Foundations, LLC.

• A call for an election for trustees. There are two positions up for election – one, one-year and one, three-year position. Applications are available in the office.

• Advertising for bids to replace the school’s current furnaces with gas furnaces.

• Facilitating the purchase of service for Teachers’ Retirement System members.

The next Potomac School Board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. March 8.