Local Districts Changing Salary Schedules

RISON - With teaching contracts set go out by May 1, both the Cleveland County and Woodlawn School Districts are revamping their salary schedules to align with Gov. Sarah Sanders' new LEARNS education plan. Cleveland County Superintendent Craig Dupuy and Woodlawn Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock both attended a meeting Monday at the Southeast Arkansas Education Cooperative in Monticello that offer so suggestions on how to proceed with teacher contracts. The new LEARNS plan not only raises the new minimum teacher salary from $36,000 to $50,000, it also takes away the Fair Dismissal Act and the Reduction In Force (RIF) guidelines that were part of previous contracts. Dupuy said Norman Hill, who serves as a financial adviser for the cooperative's 14 school districts, advised the superintendents at Monday's meeting to stand pat with their existing salary schedules and simply bring them in compliance with the new state minimums. In addition making the new minimum teacher salary $50,000, the LEARNS plan also adds $2,000 to the salaries of those certified staff who are already making $50,000 or more. The pay increases are expected to cost the Cleveland County School District an additional $283,000 in salary costs next year while the Woodlawn School District will be paying an additional $314,461.97. The state is providing Cleveland County with $316,000 to cover those costs while Woodlawn is receiving $308,000. Dupuy said he will follow Hill's advice to adjust the salaries the new minimum and take away the Fair Dismissal Act and the RIF guidelines. He said he must first pass along the revised salary schedule to the certified personnel policy committee before presenting it to the school board for approval. Due to the time constraints, Dupuy said he is postponing the Cleveland County School Board's regular monthly meeting to Monday, April 17. The regular school board meeting date was this Monday, April 10...