Crane board may OK ballot initiative

The Crane School District may seek a budget override on the November ballot. If the board agrees, it may do so at the board’s monthly meeting Tuesday.

The ballot initiative, known as an override, would allow the district to exceed its budget. The district is requesting voters allow it to collect more district additional assistance funds (once known as “capital”). The funds would be used to support “technology devices, equipment, software and infrastructure; transportation vehicles, buses and equipment; and school safety and security infrastructure and equipment,” according to information provided with the board’s agenda.

The Crane board meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Crane District Services Center, 930 Avenue C. The regular meeting will be preceded with an executive session at 4 p.m.

The possibility of a budget override was discussed at the board’s May meeting. If the board passes a resolution calling for an override election, supporting and opposing arguments would be due to the Yuma County School Superintendent by 5 p.m. Aug. 8.

In light of legislative action in late April, the board is being asked to approve a revised Salaries and Benefits Package for the 2018-2019 school year. The district is amending the document. Details of the changes were not included in the board packet.

The board is also being asked to amend pay rates for substitute teachers. Substitute pay for those teaching less than 30 days is currently $75 for an entire day of instruction (defined as 8 hours). The district is seeking board permission to raise that to $85. Long-term substitute pay would increase to $135 (for 8 hours); permanent substitutes (the substitute of record) with a Bachelor of Arts or Science would be $165. The rates are set by the board and pro-rated depending on the number of hours worked: 4 hours would result in .5 daily rate; 6.5 hours or more would earn .82 of the rate; 8 hours would get the full amount.

The board is also being asked to adopt a policy on the promotion and retention of students depending upon mastery (or non-mastery) of the state’s standards in each subject. The board is also being asked to adopt new pay rates for some bus drivers and elementary registrars, and approval for a new position.

The board’s meeting is open to the public with the exception of executive sessions.