As school districts across the state work on a budget for the 2008-09 school year, employee salaries and benefits are a main concern of governing school boards. The Big Horn County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees recently examined a preliminary district budget and voted Thursday, June 26, to implement an 8.1 percent base pay increase to all district employees.
Superintendent of Schools Dan Coe said the increase in base pay puts a Lovell teacher’s base salary at about $40,000 per year, about $3,000 more than the 2007-08 school year and slightly higher than the statewide average.


“For a smaller district like us to be at or above the state average is outstanding,” Supt. Coe said. “It’s a nice surprise to find the additional money.”


Coe said he thought the district would be able to afford to pass along a 4.3 percent cost of living adjustment to staff but the board was able to up the increase in the preliminary budget after receiving updated financial information from a six mill county tax, which came in nearly $66,000 more than the district expected. Coe said the increase also happened because of the diligent budget work of District Business Manager Layne Black-Partridge and the commitment of the board to support their staff -- the people who make the district great.


“This is well deserving of the staff,” Coe said. “The base salary increase is a way of showing support and rewarding them for the good work they do.”


The increase will also be applied to classified employees as well, Coe said. E-mail was sent to all staff to notify them of the base pay increase, and letters will soon follow. Updated salary schedules will be posted on the district Website.


Coe said the base rate increase will be sustainable in future years as long as the district maintains or increases Average Daily Membership (ADM), which directly determines funding.


In other action Thursday, the board voted to approve the hire of Cody Gines as a title 1 elementary teacher.


The next board meeting will be held Wednesday, July 16, at 6:30 p.m., with a state mandated budget meeting to follow at 8 p.m.