The Emporia school board on Wednesday approved administrator and classified salaries for the year and changes to the master contract for certified personnel.
Superintendent John Heim will receive a 4.5 percent increase in his base pay, a decision that came after a 35-minute executive session. Heim’s salary will go from $119, 223 to $124,588.
The administrative salary schedule for all principals, assistant superintendents and other administrators shows a 5.352 percent increase. The salary for certified teachers shows an increase of $1,064 on the base, bringing the base to $32,240. The salary for all other classified employees shows a 5.352 percent increase.
The school board also approved a grant application for the $67,000 from the governor’s discretionary portion of the Federal Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act grant. The Emporia School district has received funds from this grant for the past five years. The grant application includes funding for a salary for one full-time elementary prevention specialist and one half-time secondary prevention specialist. If the grant is approved, it will be used to implement the YouthFriends mentoring program. YouthFriends is a program that began in the Kansas City area and pairs an adult with children to serve as a mentor.
“We’re optimistic that we will receive the funds, but there are fewer funds available this year,” said Margi Grimwood, who presented the application to the board. “It’s not a slam dunk by any means, but we are optimistic we will get the funds.”