Warsaw School Board OKs Non-Teaching Employee Raise

Warsaw School Board Monday approved a 1.5 percent salary increase for all non-teaching employee groups.
In September, the board approved a certified teacher contract averaging 1.5 percent increase for all licensed teachers receiving an evaluation of effective or highly effective.
“This raise was based on enrollment and state funding that has stayed flat,” said Jennifer Tandy, board president.
Dr. David Hoffert, superintendent, said the board wanted to do something equal across for staff and make sure it was equal across all pay groups.
Jim Lemasters, Warsaw Community Schools communications representative for the design build for Washington STEM Academy, Edgewood Middle School and Lincoln Elementaries, gave an update on the project. Meetings have been held with faculty and staff over the last three weeks.
Modifications from their requests are being identified and evaluated.
Work is underway to obtain appropriate permits with Contractor Performance Services to make exterior footprint designs of the project.
Design layouts will be available to the public next week.
Chris Gensinger, Eisenhower Elementary principal, gave an update on the Dual Language Immersion Program.
Gensinger, Central Office Staff, and Eisenhower faculty visited Utah recently to learn about the program with plans to bring it to Eisenhower.
One or two sections of a dual Spanish and English program will begin in fall 2016 at the kindergarten level at Eisenhower. Students will have 50 percent of their instruction in Spanish and 50 percent in English.
Parents have a choice of enrolling their children in the class.
Jeremy Skinner, city planner, attended the meeting to explain the roundabout project at Mariner Drive and Husky Trail. 
The city is requesting the school corporation donate property in front of Harrison Elementary to prepare for a roundabout that will be constructed.
Skinner said the project will go to bid letting in early fall 2016, and there will be a sidewalk that begins at Mariner Drive and extends to Canterbury Apartments. There also will be a crosswalk and lighting.
In other business, the board approved a $500 donation from Dr. Michael Lyons to be used for the Astronomical Society at Harrison Elementary School.

(Story By The Times Union)