Support staff at Warsaw Community Schools haven’t had pay raises in about four years.
Monday night, Diane Shaw, a Warsaw Community High School support staff in food preparation and cashier, asked the school board to rectify that situation.
A Warsaw Community High School graduate, as are her children, she said she also was employed by two local private companies both in food service.
“Warsaw Community Schools is and continues to be an elite school corporation focusing on education being its highest priority, that which I am most proud of,” she said. “A very focused school corporation, we are the envy of school corporations near and far. ... Warsaw Community School students are truly blessed.”
Although the school corporation is a leader in many aspects, it’s at the bottom of recognizing its support staff in terms of wages, she said.
“Of all the area school corporations, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley, Triton, Manchester, Whitko, Wabash, we are the lowest in support staff wages,” she said.
She said Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz spoke to her last week. He shared with her that it has been four years since the last wage increase for support staff.
“I acknowledge our outstanding teachers, and our student bodies. Yet we also have amongst us the most hardworking support staffs, full and part time, who strive to make our corporation the best it can be. I believe and know we are all vital in the continuing growth and success of our school corporation,” she said.
She asked the school board to “present this to the appropriate committee for review in true and sincere consideration. I pray the committees’ investigation will benefit all concerned.”
After Shaw spoke, Hintz told her that her comments came at an opportune time. The school district is now conducting a salary study for all of its employee groups.
“We expect the results of that study in February,” Hintz said.
The school board also approved the 2012 Early Retirement Program.
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said this year the school corporation again was using a tiered schedule.
The offer can be accepted up to 25 eligible staff members. Warsaw Schools has 75 individuals who are eligible for this incentive, Scott said.
To be eligible, teachers, administrators and special service employees must have at least 15 years of continuous service with WCS with no break in service. They must be at the top of the salary scale and qualify for full retirement through the Indiana State Teachers Retirement Fund.
The initial tier starts at $20,000 if the person applies to the superintendent by March 30. It is $17,500 if they apply by April 20, and $15,000 if they apply by May 11. Notification to accepted applicants will be on or before May 25.
This is the fourth year WCS has offered the retirement incentive option, Scott said.
Hintz provided information to the school board regarding the monthly enrollment report.
For January, WCS had 7,031 students, up from 7,004 students in December. Hintz said the January enrollment is an increase over the same period last year. There are about 100 more students at the elementary level than the same time last year.
In January 2011, the total enrollment at all eight elementary schools was 3,725. Enrollment at Edgewood Middle School was 547, and 536 at Lakeview Middle School. The high school’s enrollment was 2,032.
For January 2012, the total elementary enrollment was 3,821. Edgewood’s enrollment was 538, Lakeview’s 523 and WCHS had 2,149 students.
