School board approves $4.8 million salary increase

by Carol Crump
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:46 PM MDT

The Natrona County School District's budget for 2008-09 is close to $283 million.

Of that whopping amount, $165 million in the general fund pays for teachers, instructional support and general operations, like purchasing and printing.

This year, district employees will share in a $4.8 million salary increase, based on a market analysis.

The district's budget is put together under a policy developed each year by the board of trustees.

The policy includes participation in the budget recommendations by the board, its subcommittees, individual schools' budget committees that include parents, the Compact Issues Committee and staff members in each of the school district's divisions.

"It was a very smooth budget process," said Natrona County Education Association (NCEA) President Doreen McGlade.

Part of the process is to decide where to put money and, in some cases, where not to put money, said Steve Degenfelder, the board's treasurer.

While the raises will bring all employees within the 85th percentile nationally, the increase in pay won't have the same percentage boost in Wyoming, according to McGlade.

The union president said the district struggles to compete with starting salaries, as a result of the district's decisions to implement programs like instructional facilitators, tutors and a student-to-teacher classroom ratio of 17-1.

"We balance the needs of employees and students," McGlade said. "I'm proud of the fact we're doing the right things for kids and employees."

Subs get raises too

NCSD's subs gained significantly in salary. Long-term subs will see an increase from $110 per day to $150 a day. Certified Wyoming teachers will go up to $100 a day and certified subs will see an increase to $90 a day.

Associate Superintendent Cheryl Olsen-Quinlan credits good market information for the raises.

"The market analysis gave us good data for good decisions," she said.

Where does the rest of the money go?

The rest of the budget is split among other funds that are received for specific purposes, such as capital projects like new schools, breakfast and lunch programs and medical insurance.

The district's general fund revenue comes from a combination of local, county, state and other sources. The block grant from the state of a little more than $104 million makes up most of the general fund revenue.

Another $32 million comes from general county taxation from a 31-mill levy on the assessed valuation of county property.

An additional 12 mills for schools goes directly to a combination of the Wyoming State School Foundation Fund, Natrona County BOCES (Board of Cooperative Extension) and the Natrona County Recreation Joint Powers Board.

With no bonds outstanding, the district only pays $1,000 in debt service. The district budget sets out $4.8 million for food service for breakfast and lunch programs and $5.7 million for transportation to school and activities.

The capital construction budget, which is funded through the state, totals $45.9 million.

Of those funds, $7.5 million will pay for property for a new CY Middle School, a new high school and new elementary schools on the east side of Casper in Centennial Hills, in Mills-Mountain View and a replacement facility for Manor Heights.

The rest of the state allotment will fund design and construction of CY Middle School, start design work on the eastside elementary, add additions to Sagewood and Southridge schools and finish Cottonwood and Poison Spider schools.

The NCSD board unanimously approved the recommended annual budget at its July 16 meeting.

"We're thankful for the commitment the Legislature has made. We have the resources available to us," said trustee Donn McCall. "We want to be good stewards to be compatible with the commitment the Legislature and the taxpayers have made."

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