DeKalb board approves extra pay and stipends as Mitchell Elementary readies to open

The DeKalb CUSD 428 Board of Education voted to approve differential stipends for staff at the new Mitchell Elementary and authorized up to eight additional contractual days for the school’s principal to finish preopening work.

The board approved stipends for MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) Tier 1 and Tier 2 coaches, a communications liaison and a choral director for Mitchell Elementary, and later approved a motion to grant the principal up to eight extra contractual days to complete punch-list items tied to opening the new building. The motion for additional days passed in a roll-call vote with one board member voting "no."

District officials said the building was turned over to the district on June 1 and that the principal’s work includes classroom setup, inventorying and organizing instructional materials, coordinating signage and security settings, and scheduling. Director of Teaching and Learning Billy Guaramo described the scope of the principal’s responsibilities: "He's opening a brand new building that he's opening now," and noted that the principal has already used his five floating contract days and that the district had planned for additional time but reduced that request to eight days.

The board discussion highlighted staffing gaps. Assistant Director of Student Services Dr. Lisa Becker explained the roles the MTSS coaches will play, saying the coaches "look at school-wide behavioral data" and coordinate tiered interventions and partnerships with a family services agency. Becker also noted that some tier 2 functions are often performed by psychologists or social workers, while tier 1 coaches are typically general-education teachers.

Board members raised concerns about precedent and equity. One board member said publicly they intended to vote "no," arguing that if the district pays extra days for this principal, other administrators might expect the same in future openings and that the request should have been planned earlier. Proponents replied that the situation is not typical districtwide because Mitchell is a brand-new building, the assistant principal and dean positions had not yet been filled, and an unexpected fiber cut disrupted communications and delayed work.

Guaramo said the administration estimated as many as 12 days might be needed but lowered the request to eight, noting "we're hoping it'll be 5, but we're gonna go up to 8" to allow sufficient time to complete the remaining items. The district described the remaining tasks as a defined punch list being tracked by the administration and facilities staff.

The stipends approved for Mitchell follow the district’s differential process: positions are posted, staff apply, and selections are made through an internal process. Becker said the district encourages a range of applicants for the coaching roles and that hiring decisions are made via application and interview.

The board also discussed timing: principals’ contracts begin July 1, and summer professional development and operational deadlines contributed to the timeline. Several trustees said they had previously approved extra days when other large openings occurred, and administrators pointed to prior practice when new buildings were opened.

The approvals will be funded from local district funds, officials said. The board did not set a public dollar figure for the principal days during the meeting; the administration said the days will be charged to local funds and that staff will report back with final accounting as tasks are completed.

Board members asked administration to continue tracking the principal’s punch list, hiring progress for the remaining administrator positions and the final number of extra days actually used. The district said it expects hiring for key positions to continue before the school year and that the extra days request was intended to ensure the school opens with staffing, systems and materials in place.