Board Approves Teacher Raises

FARMINGTON — Christmas comes a little early for Farmington teachers this year.

The Farmington School Board approved a $1,200 raise for all certified personnel and a 3.22 percent raise for classified employees at its Oct. 28 meeting. The money will be given as a lump sum raise before the Thanksgiving break.

Mandy Uher, district treasurer, said the raises will cost the district $335,000, including benefits.

The raise will be added to the school district’s salary schedule, which means that a new teacher with a bachelor’s degree will earn $38,500 for the 2013-14 school year. A teacher with a bachelor’s degree and 10 years of experience with Farm- ington will earn $43,640 this year. A teacher with a master’s degree and 10 years experience will earn $46,654.

The raise is in addition to an annual increment of $514 given to certified staff at the beginning of each year, through 30 years of service.

The Oct. 28 meeting included the annual reorganization of the board, which comes each year following the September school elections. Jeff Oxford was re-elected board president. Travis Warren was elected vice president and Tony Parsley will continue to serve as board secretary.

In other business, Bob Echols, principal of the Freshman Academy, gave an update on the first quarter of the school year. He described the year so far as a “great beginning.” His report included information on what the students have been doing in each of their classes.

Two high school students, Kristi DuChanois and KayLynne Shaw, participated in a two-week program called Medical Applications of Science for Health last summer and they told the board about their experiences. The program, sponsored by the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, provides students with hands-on learning about different medical careers.

Bryan Law, superintendent, recommended having a work session sometime in November to discuss phase 2 of the new high school, which will be classroom space. A schematic drawing of phase 2 will be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education in February.