The school district may fork out an additional $1.5 million to school employees after a consultant reviewed wages for a number of classified staff, like custodians and aides. The money would be in addition to the raises school board trustees recently approved.
About $750,000 would be recurring costs out of the school’s general fund, while the other half is eligible for reimbursement from the state since it covers transportation and special education costs.
The consultant, Educational Management Solutions, has completed wage studies with the district for years, said Larry Reznicek, school district human resources director, at a dinner meeting Tuesday. The group reviews appeals made for raises based on job duties and the market.
This year, five appeals were made — four in reference to the competitive market and one based on the position’s duties. Typically, the appeals cost the district between $10,000 to $15,000 a year because only a few positions move around.
The amount jumped this year because of the groups looked at, which included custodians, aides, cooks, bus drivers and warehouse technicians. If the additional raises are given, it would affect 640 of the 850 classified employees who work in the district, Reznicek said.
As part of the study, the consultants looked at turnover numbers for each position in the last three years. Reznicek said those numbers surprised him, even though he expects a certain amount of turnover. Most of the positions looked at include nine months work and sometimes only 35 hours.
In the last three years, these employees have left their positions:
- 65 from nutrition services
- 135 custodians
- 335 instructional and special education aides
- 174 from transportation
- two warehouse technicians
“Our market is right here in Gillette,” Reznicek said. “It may be tough, a lot of times we want to compare and see what other school districts are paying for their educational support personnel, but remember our market is here. We are competing with restaurants, with food service. We are competing with Children’s Developmental Center for aides as well.”
Some employees take jobs with the city or county, as well as bus drivers who complete CDL training with the district before moving on to higher paying positions.
He said that with all of the losses, it’s tough to train and build a work culture. Two weeks ago the consultant group compiled the data and are working through updated numbers he’ll present at the school board’s June 13 board meeting. The $1.5 million is an estimate.
Superintendent Alex Ayers said the consultant group doesn’t recommend whether a district give the raises based on the numbers — it simply gives the numbers. It’s up to administration and the board to change them.
“(They’ve) given the data that we’re behind a little bit,” Ayers said. “I know our people appreciated what the board did in April but as you can see with the turnover data we need to do a little more.”
He added that the district hopes to do a smaller wage study in the fall for the remaining 200 classified employees, like office personnel and technology aides, who were not looked at in the appeals study.
(1) comment
When classified employees children qualify for free and reduced lunches they are not being paid a living wage.
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