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Teacher’s contract is settled

USC District, union, have new agreement

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Nov 21, 2021

United South Central School Board vice chair, Jon Feist, right, congratulates Ethan Koehler on being selected as a student representative to the board. Later in the meeting, Koehler gave a report on the Veterans Day program and winter sports practices.

The United South Central School Board, at their meeting on Nov. 16, approved a two-year contract with the United South Central Education Association.

“The negotiation meetings were very productive,” USC superintendent Keith Fleming reported. “It only took us two meetings to come to an agreement.”

In 2021-22, the first year of the agreement, there will be a 3.25 percent increase to each cell on salary schedule A.

There is also a $1,500 staff retention stipend which will be funded through Esser Funds.

There is also an increase of 2.5 percent to schedule C.

The second year of the contract is the same except for the removal of the $1,500 staff retention stipend.

“The total package represents an increase of seven percent over two years,” Fleming said.

The contract was approved unanimously by the board.

The board also swore in Ethan Koehler, who joins Lillian Neubauer, as a student representative on the School Board.

Neubauer reported on American Education week.

“Representatives of the FFA, Drama Club and other organizations will be interviewed during the week by KBEW radio,” Neubauer mentioned.

Koehler also gave a short report.

“We had a good turnout for the Veterans Day program,” Koehler said. “The program included four USC seniors who gave short speeches. Winter sports practices have begun and everyone is excited for the upcoming seasons.”

Fleming also had a short report.

“Now that the teacher’s contract is settled, we are beginning negotiations with the ESP (Education Support Professionals) bargaining unit.”

The board also gave approval for a group planning an outdoor learning and garden space to use two different areas of the school property for their proposed project. One area is south of the school building near the pond and the other is on the north end of the property.

The board also approved a motion authorizing the purchase of equipment to upgrade the school’s ability to livestream events.

The amount totaled $10,760 and included money for new camera equipment, microphone, camera monitor and a laptop computer in addition to other supplies needed to complete the upgrade.

In other business:

• The board approved the World’s Best Workforce goals which deals with how the school is addressing readiness for kindergarten, how the school’s third graders are reading, how USC is closing the achievement gap demographically, how USC’s students are attaining career and college readiness by graduation, how the students are completing graduation requirements and how USC is performing in State and National assessments.

• A special meeting was scheduled for Dec. 21, at 5:30 p.m. to review and approve the auditor’s report. The Truth In Taxation and regularly scheduled meeting will begin at 6 p.m. the same evening.

• The board voted to approve the pregnancy leave request of high school English teacher Rita Augustine beginning approximately Feb. 11, 2022 and lasting for eight weeks.

• A medical leave request of 6-8 weeks for food service employee Bobbi Jo Luecht, beginning Nov. 12, was approved.