Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Actions And Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kenowa Hills board approves staff contract agreements, pay increases and expense registers
Summary
At its Aug. 12 Committee of the Whole workshop, the Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education approved tentative agreements with transportation, teacher and support-staff unions, authorized central office pay increases, and accepted June and July check registers; two members abstained on separate labor agreements due to conflicts of interest.
KENOWA HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS — The Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education Committee of the Whole on Aug. 12 approved a series of personnel and financial actions affecting district staff and operations.
The board approved tentative agreements with three employee groups: the Kenowa Hills Transportation Association (Report #24-048), the Kenowa Hills Education Association (Report #24-049) and the Kenowa Hills Support Staff Association (Report #24-050). The board also approved cost-of-living and longevity increases for central office support staff and administrators as outlined in Report #24-051. Secretary Courtade conducted roll-call votes for several items.
Member Courtade moved and Member Turner seconded approval of the consent agenda, which included the June 24, 2024 meeting minutes and the June 2024 check register (General Fund expenditures of $1,424,816.51 and total June expenditures of $1,889,271.58). That motion passed 7-0. The July 2024 check register was also filed with total monthly expenditures of $1,847,653.14 across listed funds.
On labor contracts, Member Gustinis moved and Member Turner seconded approval of the transportation agreement; the motion passed on a 7-0 roll call. Member Courtade moved, Member Turner seconded and the board approved the tentative agreement with the Kenowa Hills Education Association; Treasurer Hart abstained from discussion and voting on this item because of a stated conflict of interest, with the motion recorded as passing 6-0 with one abstention. Member Hart moved and Member Courtade seconded approval of the tentative agreement with the Kenowa Hills Support Staff Association; Trustee Robinson abstained from discussion and voting on that item because of a stated conflict of interest, and the motion passed 6-0 with one abstention.
The board approved central office support-staff and administrative increases (Report #24-051) after a motion by Member Courtade and second by Member Hart; the roll call vote passed 7-0.
Superintendent Hopkins updated the board on bond construction at the middle school, reporting that work remained on schedule but some areas would be inaccessible during secondary registration the week of Aug. 19; contractors expected all areas to be accessible by the district open house on Aug. 27. Hopkins also noted that a teacher at Zinser Elementary has expressed interest in serving as a therapy-dog handler and that the board requested additional information before any policy or program expansion is considered.
As part of first-reading policy work, Hopkins presented recommended policy additions and revisions (Policy 2264 and Policy 2266) the administration says are required by the new Title IX regulations that became effective Aug. 1, 2024. No action was taken; the item remains at first reading.
Public comment was limited to one speaker and the board reiterated the three-minute public-comment rule. The meeting concluded with scheduling future meetings and adjournment at 8:40 p.m.
Votes at a glance: consent agenda — approved 7-0; transportation tentative agreement (Report #24-048) — approved 7-0; KHEA tentative agreement (Report #24-049) — approved 6-0, Treasurer Hart abstained; KHSSA tentative agreement (Report #24-050) — approved 6-0, Trustee Robinson abstained; central office increases (Report #24-051) — approved 7-0.
The board’s next scheduled meetings are Aug. 26 (regular board meeting) and Sept. 9 (Committee of the Whole).
