NORTH MANCHESTER – An amended 2013-2014 calendar that delays the start of the school year was approved by the Manchester Community School Board during its meeting Tuesday. The amended calendar delays the start of school for the Manchester School District until Aug. 20, and moves the last day of school to May 30. Graduation will be delayed until June 6 to leave room for potential snow days that need made up at the end of the school year. Bill Reichhart, Manchester Schools superintendent, said the delay was necessary due to problems in deliveries of vital items for the start of school. In other business, Campus Life was approved to restart an on-campus program at Manchester Junior and Senior High School that would place an individual in the school during the lunch period. According to Kent Yost, a representative from Campus Life, the idea is to have someone on campus who can relate and talk to students. Nancy Alspaugh, MJSHS principal, stated that they had participated in this program before and that it really helps to establish “positive peer relationships” that many students do not have currently. A five percent pay increase for classified employees was also approved by the school board. This was the first pay increase for these employees since 2006 and helps to make the pay scale more competitive when seeking new employees, the board heard. The board also held a public hearing on proposed contract changes for Reichhart that will increase his base salary by almost $3,000. Reichhart’s current contract is good for three years and includes a rollover clause if he receives satisfactory performance ratings by the board of trustees. Finally the school board approved for publication a review of the 2014 budget. A public hearing will be held during the next school board meeting Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
