School board members approve salary schedule revisions

During Tuesday’s regular meeting, Clovis Municipal Schools board members approved revisions to the district’s managerial salary schedule.

The nine-step pay schedule, which applies to management, administrators and coordinators, was introduced by Assistant Superintendent of Finance Shawna Russell and officials said it is effective only during the 2016-17 school year.

Superintendent of Schools Jody Balch said he felt confident with the schedule moving forward after the initiative had fallen short for a decade.

“The steps have not been honored in 10 years,” Balch said. “We’re trying to make steps have some value. We had two maintenance guys that had a total of 48 years of service here and one of them moved (a step) one time. We finally have the steps and will now start to honor the steps. The salary schedules have been in such disarray and we have worked to get the titles to equate to the dollars that come in. Here’s what this position pays. We’re not going to lie to you and tell you if you stay here 18 years, you get to work to this point right here, because that has not been true. We have not done that.”

In other meeting actions:

• The board approved setting a general obligation and tax levy election, to pair with a school board election next year. Erik Harrigan represents Rbc Capital Markets, LLC., which serves as the school district’s financial advisor.

“The district is asking voters to authorize up to $20 million in general obligation bonds,” he said. “This will essentially continue the existing debt service at the same level and will not result in a debt service tax rate increase. We anticipate selling those bonds over a four-year period in installments of $5 million, which could fluctuate based upon district needs. The district’s assessed value has continued to grow strong, which allows the district to issue up to $20 million in bonds without increasing the debt service tax rate.”

Officials said the Feb. 7, 2017, election will be held at Colonial Park Golf Course, the Youth Recreation Building, Roy Walker Community Center, Trinity United Methodist Church, North Plains Mall, and the Curry County Administrative Complex.

If the tax levy vote passes, property taxes would continue for six years at a rate of about $67 for a $100,000 home. Voters must be registered by Jan. 10 to cast a ballot in the election. Absentee voting would run Jan. 10 to Feb. 3. Up for election are board of education representatives for Districts 1 and 2, held respectively by Kyle Snider and Cindy Osburn.

• The board also granted permission for the Clovis High School Wildcadettes dance team to travel to the American Dance/Drill Team DFW Classic Feb. 23-26. The estimated total cost, paid through team fundraising and booster club dollars, is $20,070. The cost is $800 each for 22 Wildcadettes and $725 each for two sponsors in travel and meal costs, and four $225 entry fees.