By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Bowling Green Board of Education approved a two-year contract for the district’s teachers and gave 3 percent merit pay and additional severance pay to Superintendent Francis Scruci on Tuesday (April 26).
The teachers’ contract, which runs from July 1 of this year through June 30, 2024, calls for an average increase of 3 percent for the teachers in each of the next two years.
In a statement released by the two sides, the new contract recognizes the teachers’ performance during the past two years when education has been disrupted by COVID-19. This has been “one of the most challenging times in history, as it relates to educating students throughout the pandemic.”
The statement also cites the concern that job satisfaction among teachers is “at an all-time low” and a record number of educators nationwide are leaving the profession.
These shortages have led other districts to recruit “top teachers” from Bowling Green.
This comes at a time of rising inflation.
In the statement, union president Jeff Nichols called the contract part of a collaborative effort that will make the district able to recruit and retain quality teachers.
The board gave Scruci lump sum merit payments of 3 percent of his $151,000 salary for the past two school years. He had been evaluated in those years as required by his contract, but no merit pay was given. He has yet to be evaluated for the current year.
The board also amended his contract to add payment for additional unused sick days when he retires. He will now be paid for up to 70 unused sick days.
The vote on the contract adjustments was 4-1, with Tracy Hovest opposing the resolution. She said she did not object to the merit pay, but does not believe in reopening a contract that’s been agreed upon and is still in force.
The board voted unanimously to continue its consulting contract with Rockmill Financial Consultants for six months at a cost of $20,000.
Rockmill’s David Conley has provided financial advice to the district for four years.
That has cost the district $170,000, said resident Steven Bateson, and that’s enough. District officials have certainly benefited from his expertise. “This has been an educational process,” he said. “It’s time for us to move on.”
Hovest, who voted against renewing the contract last year, agreed, noting that this contract was only for six months. Conley’s advice has been valuable and taught board and district officials what they needed “so we can cut ties and fly on our own.”
Cathy Schuller, the treasurer, said Conley has educated not only the board and administrators but the community as well on the best financing options for the district. “The value he’s brought to the district is outstanding,” she said.
“He saved us $1 million with the refinancing of the bonds,” Board Member Norman Geer said. While the contract is aimed at specific needs in the next six months, he said, there was no way to predict ways in which he could save the district money “because he comes up with ideas that help the teachers and the district.”
The board also approved hiring Michel Bechstein as the principal of Kenwood Elementary.
Bechstein, who attended Kenwood, has ties to the school going back to his father and including his children who attend the school.
Bechstein is currently middle school assistant principal. He will start his new job on Aug. 1.
