Pay hike for Oconto teachers, support staff OK'd
OCONTO – The Oconto School Board has approved a pay increase for 2020-21 for the district’s teachers and support staff.
Base pay will rise by $1,000, and teachers will also receive a step in pay. Those in Step 1 to Step 20 will receive an overall increase of $2,500. Anyone in Step 21+1 or +2 will receive a $1,500 increase, said Superintendent Emily Miller.
The overall pay hike will cost an estimated $170,000, or about 3.94% of what is projected to be spent this year.
Support staff – which includes custodial, food service, office employees and paraprofessionals – will receive a 2.5% wage increase. That will cost about $36,000.
The board OK’d the increases after a closed-door session.
A 3% pay hike for administrators was previously approved.
Two retirements were also approved at the Feb. 17 meeting, for Jan Paluch, special education paraprofessional, who has been with the district 27 years, and Debra Shufelt, the OHS Student Services administrative assistant, who has 29 years of service.
The board also discussed upcoming projects with Buildings & Grounds Director Brian Potter. At the high school, that would include resurfacing the gym floor, restoring the ball diamonds, renovating the parking lots, installing LED lighting in halls and classrooms, and many others.
At the middle school, projects include sidewalk and roof repairs, bathroom faucet replacement, new classroom furniture, new air handlers, new carpet squares in two areas, as well as LED lighting in classrooms and hallways.
At the elementary school, work includes installing handrails on bleachers, new carpet squares in the music room and some new classroom carpeting, and LED lighting of classrooms and the parking lots.
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Contact Kent Tempus at 920-431-8226 or ktempus@gannett.com.