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Somerset board approves steps-plus-3% pay plan, adds one-year third-grade teacher; WASDE training motion fails
Summary
At its regular meeting the Somerset board voted to adopt 'steps plus 3%' compensation for all staff, approved adding a one-year third-grade teacher to address overcrowding, approved meal prices and an alternative expulsion policy, and rejected a motion to schedule a paid external board-development session.
The Somerset School District board approved a compensation package and interim staffing changes at its regular meeting and declined to fund an external board development session.
On compensation, a motion "to vote the compensation option of steps and 3% raise across the board for all staff" was moved by a board member and seconded; the board carried the motion in a roll-call vote. Finance staff said the plan will be processed as soon as payroll schedules allow and that approved increases may include retroactive pay to the start of the contract. "We'll communicate when it's going to apply as well," the finance representative said.
The board also approved adding a one-year third-grade teacher after administrators reported third-grade enrollment had risen to 108 students, leaving four sections with class sizes of 27–28. Superintendent Shannon described the addition as a short-term, one-year contract to reduce class size and promised to re-evaluate after the school year. "We feel that we'd be able to absorb that, you know, for this purpose for 1 year," Shannon said.
A consent motion to adopt 2024–25 meal prices, accept a memo from the activities director, and re-adopt policy 5.610.1 (alternative expulsion hearing procedure) passed by voice vote.
Board members debated hiring an external WASDE/WASB consultant for a two-hour board-development session (proposal fee about $1,200). A motion to schedule a session for Sept. 23 was seconded but failed on a 3–3 roll-call vote after members cited cost concerns and differing views about the value of formal board development.
What happens next: District administration will implement the compensation change, post and begin hiring/interviewing for the one-year third-grade position immediately, and follow routine communication timelines for payroll and staffing. The WASDE/WASB training will not occur on Sept. 23 unless the board brings it back in a future meeting.
