School board approves staff salary increases

At their Monday March 18 meeting, the Hayward Community School Board approved salary and wage increases for teachers and support staff and approved a student transportation contract with Hurricane Busing for the 2024-25 year.

The board also approved an increase from the current four days per week for 4-year-old kindergarten students to five days per week for 2024-25. A reason for this is the shortage in available child care services in the community.

The board approved a 3.34 percent total package increase in salary, or 1 percent increase per cell of experience and professional development, for teachers, up to the top level of a master’s degree plus 32 credits.

The base salary will increase from $44,608 to $45,365

The board also approved a 2.5 percent increase for 97 support staff.

The board approved a 2 percent flat increase in the contract with Hurricane Busing for 2024-25. With adjustments for short-bus rates and route distances, the total increase is 4.47 percent—about $73,840, said Finance Committee Chairman Dr. Harry Malcolm.

Malcolm said that the district spent $1.6 million for busing last year.

In other actions, the board:

Approved the resignations of Janna Reier, assistant track coach; Natasha Shimko, special education paraprofessional; and John Paine, assistant boys golf coach.

Voted to hire Meredith Ingbretson as school district community education coordinator.

Voted to hire Laura Taylor as Native American Culture Club advisor.

Voted to hire Joy Keller as assistant track coach.

On behalf of the Northland Area Builders Association (NABA), Ed Gobler and Steve Longtine presented a $3,000 check for the purchase of a joiner device for the high school technology education. department.

On behalf of the Hayward Foundation for Educational Enrichment (HFEE), Salle Beckwith presented a $2,620 check for the purchase of a communication device library to help students who are minimally verbal.

Cheryll Churchill, speech-language pathologist, said they serve 200 students.

City of Hayward Police Chief Marshall Savitski introduced School Resource Officer (SRO) Jake Borchardt to the board and audience.

The Primary School received a donation of $150 from Frandsen Bank & Trust to be used at the Scholastic Book Fair.

Northern Lakes Cenex donated $384.36 from February sales at their Pride Pump to the school district.

The board voted to swear in the new board members elected in the April 2 election on or before April 19. Their term begins on April 22. The board will elect new officers and make committee assignments on May 6.