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BOE approves salary schedule

ELKINS — Salary changes for Randolph County Schools positions were approved 4-1 Tuesday in order to meet uniformity law that is part of state code.

The fiscal year 2018 Salary Schedule recommended by Randolph County Superintendent of Schools Gabriel J. “Gabe” Devono included restoring the number of paid work days for elementary school principals from 216 to 220; returning to a $9,000 stipend for high school athletic directors, instead of $6,000; as well as other changes to salaries and supplements.

“I think they need to be put back up where they were,” Devono said to the Board of Education during its regular meeting Tuesday evening, referring to some of the reductions that the board approved this spring during reduction-in-force/transfer meetings.

He said elementary principals do not have assistant principals, and they have many duties and responsibilities, as do athletic directors.

Adam Roth, former athletic director of Elkins High School, resigned after the board cut supplements for athletic directors from $9,000 to $6,000 this spring. That position has been posted but remains unfilled.

Board member Lisa Wamsley voted against the motion to approve the salary schedule, saying she received numerous complaints and concerns from staff members.

Board member Rachel Anger, who participated in the meeting by phone, said she also heard concerns from employees– including some who were upset county employees did not receive a $500 supplement check at the end of 2016 from funding that comes from Senate Bill 541.

Devono said he’d be glad to review that funding this year, especially if Congress reauthorizes the Secure Rural Schools Act and restores major funds for rural counties that have National Forest properties.

The salary schedule was approved with Anger, President Donna Auvil and board members Janie Newlon and Amanda Smith voting in favor, and Wamsley voting against it.

Smith said after the meeting she is impressed with how many positive improvements Devono and the new administration have made since July 1, specifically with finding savings for the county.

Smith also said the salary schedule brought much-needed uniformity to the employee positions, and the increased costs included in the changes are outweighed by the savings Devono has found, as well as situations where an employee has left and the position is no longer needed. For example, she said since Homestead Elementary School is not reopening for the upcoming school year because of roof damage, the county does not have to pay for those positions. She noted those employees have been transferred to other school locations.

“All the savings that have happened in less than 30 days more than justifies the changes in the salary schedule,” Smith said.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at the board office building in Elkins.

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