Personnel Advisory Committee

Staci will be present to help explain the reasoning for the changes.  With the short notice, both Kathy and Lori are unable to attend as they had other things scheduled.

The attached documents provide some data in considering staff reductions, especially student to staff ratios.  In the Staffing 2019 document, there are a series of graphs that compare Tipton with two groups of schools – those in our geographic area and those that are similar to Tipton (Peer Group) in enrollment, special ed population, and poverty. There is a brief commentary with each set of graphs.  But basically, while our enrollment has decline, our staffing has remained constant.  Granted that enrollment declines in varying amounts across the grade levels, but with significant declines, staffing has not declined proportionately – teachers, support staff, and administration.  We can get by with that in the short term as the small classes enter the elementary.  But the long-term effect will have to be explored as these small classes begin to enter the middle and then the high schools.

The document 2019-2020 enrollment is a familiar document showing the trends of enrollment over the year.

The 2019-2020 Enrollment Class Size shows the class sizes at the elementary level.  For grades K-3 we are looking at 20 students per class.  We did not cut a third-grade section last year.  The argument was that this was a high-stakes grade with this being the first grade with ISTEP and also having the iRead assessment.

With the first small class now gong into fourth grade, the recommendation will be to reduce this grade level to four sections.  This will put the class size at 25 rather than 20 if we did nothing.  I feel that a class size of 23-27 is reasonable for intermediate grades.  The principals do not agree with me on this.  They think consideration should be given to the characteristic of the students.  I don’t believe we have the luxury of having a 20:1 class size in the intermediate grades.

The last two documents provide the class sizes of the classes at the middle and high schools. This information is taken from a fall report submitted to the state that lists the teacher, the class taught, and the number of students in that class.  The numbers, in some cases, can be misleading and may need further explanations.

Steven and I have met to discuss moving forward with the position vacated by Tammie Irmerger.  Tammie had originally been hired as a Tech Aide at $10.50/hour.  In November, the board increased her pay based on the recommendation from me (via Brian) in that she brought more to the position than just the original aide position.  So we would like to keep this position at the level it evolved into rather than an "aide" position.  We are proposing to modify the posting with the responsibilities listed below (Revised Technology Support/Technician).  The two items highlighted, along with the title, have been added to items  listed in previous postings.

I have attached the current job descriptions we have on file for: Elementary Tech Aide, MS/HS Tech Aide, and Technology Support Technician (what Steven was hired to do.).  The fourth job description, Revised Technology Support) blends those job descriptions plus adds some of the things that Tammie began doing (data, reports, administrative functions) and the basis for her pay increase in November.  This is what is being proposed to advertise.  

Tammie was hired a couple of years ago as the MS/HS Technology Aide at $10.50/hour.  In the fall of 2018 she was making $10.73/hour at 194 days for an annual salary of $15,612.  In November, the board increased that to $12.50/hour at 214 days for an annual salary of $20,063.  Brian felt strongly that she deserved an increase (many of our people do) and he was very fearful that we would lose her.  He had hoped to get her salary to around $25,000.  With the last proposal, we were going to bump Tammie's salary by another 10% - taking it to $13.75/hour or $22,069 annually.  

The position to fill the vacancy would be more in line with what Steven and Tammie both did.  I would propose a pay rate of $13.50 beginning.  One question is the number of days.  Steven would like to see it at 224 (annual - $22,680, increase of $611). I would prefer keeping it at 214 days (annual - $21,668, decrease of $401).  

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 18 at 5:30 PM.