ACSD Board of Directors approves salaries and contract settlement with Education Association, agrees to still commit funding to Keystone AEA
by Brianne Grimstad
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Negotiations Committee members met with Allamakee Community Education Association (ACEA) representatives to discuss contract negotiations Friday morning, April 12. In its initial proposal, ACEA asked for a base salary increase of $860 to $34,070. The total increase with step movement, insurance increase, lane change increase and the increase in the base came to 3.95%, with the step movement and lane changes given according to Article V, Section 3 of the Master Contract.
The ACEA proposal also included a year agreement on the Salary Schedule. They also discussed Teacher Salary Supplement (TSS) increasing from $4,000 to $4,500 and reimbursement for attending conferences and workshops to go from $70 to $150. Superintendent Jay Mathis noted that was something that could be added to the teacher handbook, and he also clarified that this would pertain to conferences and workshops that were held on weekends or during the summer months.
The Allamakee Community School District then presented its initial proposal. The board’s proposal included removing a sentence from the Master Contract’s Article V – Wages. Section 1: “This shall be a single salary schedule based on training and experience and will include teacher salary supplement money indexed through the schedule.” The board proposed a $500 increase to the teaching base and coaching base. Teacher Salary Supplement money would be dispersed according to Iowa law and at the District’s discretion, with input from the ACEA. The board also proposed a one-year contract, and that proposal is a 3.17% total package increase.
The ACSD Board then met for its regular monthly meeting Monday, April 15. Public hearings on the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 school year and amending the 2023-2024 budget were held. There were no written or verbal comments and the hearings were closed. The revised agenda was approved. Under the Consent Agenda, the following personnel hirings were approved: Ryan Steffen, 6-12 Art Teacher; Ashley Knox, Middle School Special Education Teacher; Mark Schmadeke, High School Special Education Teacher; Tim Bulman, Assistant Middle School Football Coach; Brad Krambeer and Jon Snitker as volunteer softball coaches for the summer; Peggy Sivesind, Route Bus Driver; Kimberly Shelton and Jesse Peterson, Bowling Co-Coaches; Dillon Daniel, Credit Recovery Teacher; and an increase in paraprofessional Ashley Mitchell’s hours.
The Board also accepted the following resignations: Ashley Dougherty, Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach; Mason Berns, Teacher and Head Varsity Boys Wrestling Coach; Laurel Keenan, Teacher and Assistant FBLA Advisor; Roger Peterson, Bus Driver; and Payton Moore, 9th Grade Volleyball Coach. Dillon Daniel was transferred from Assistant to Head Middle School Football Coach, and Maria Baker was transferred from Title I/SPED at St. Patrick School to SPED at West Elementary School.
One open enrollment into the district and one open enrollment out were approved. A Swimming Cooperative Agreement with Decorah High School and Allamakee, Howard-Winneshiek, MFL/MarMac, North Fayette Valley, Postville, South Winneshiek and Turkey Valley School Districts was approved, as was a Wrestling Cooperative Agreement between ACSD and Eastern Allamakee Community School District. ACSD also renewed its IASB (Iowa Association of School Boards) membership.
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