School District Staff Get Raises

When school staff returns to work in late summer, they’ll be making more money.

The McDonald County R-1 School District Board of Education approved raises at a special meeting Tuesday night.

Dr. Mark Stanton said the total cost would be $570,989 for next year’s budget, which the board approved during the meeting. Teachers will receive a $545 step increase plus a $345 raise. Support personnel will receive their step plus a 1 percent raise.

The new drug testing policy still had some editing issues to be resolved before it could be approved. After the editing is complete, the policy will be sent to the board’s attorney. The drug testing policy will apply to high school and junior high school students in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities.

Also Tuesday night, the board revisited the lease of land that will be used for a cross-country track. It is now being leased by a farmer for cows. The farmer wanted to know if he could still run his cows on the land when the cross-country track is not in use. The cross-country track will be a 12-foot section of the field that is mowed. The board voted to pro-rate the lease for 10 months, as the farmer will not be able to use the land for two months each year.

In other business, the school board:

• Gave permission for cheerleaders to attend a camp at Springdale.

• Approved a bid for tile in the kitchen, cafeteria and lobby at Noel Elementary School.