PRAIRIE GROVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS : District tables action on soft drink contract
Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2008
PRAIRIE GROVE - The Board of Education tabled a proposed new soft drink contract from Coca-Cola and approved some salary changes at its monthly meeting Monday.
New Superintendent Randy Willison, attending his first meeting as the district's top administrator, recommended tabling the proposed contract for further review.
The proceeds from the contract have been significantly reduced, Willison said. The state has passed more stringent requirements on vending machines since 1998, when the expiring 10-year contract with Coke was implemented.
"It's a lot different," Willison said. "There's no sense of urgency."
The 1998 contract was for $ 300, 000 over 10 years. The current proposal from Coke is a five-year contract worth $ 70, 000 - $ 14, 000 per year.
The board also adopted a recommendation from Willison to issue 1. 5 percent raises for 12 employees not on the school district's salary schedule and create a new salary schedule for them.
Most of the employees affected by the action were secretaries and administration office staff.
Willison said other positions besides those received annual step increases for increased working experience with the district, but those employees did not. The average annual step increase was between 1. 2 to 1. 7 percent, Willison said.
The board also met in closed session to hold a grievance hearing that lasted more than 90 minutes. The meeting was held in closed session at the request of the employee filing the grievance, Willison said.
At one point in the hearing, football coach Danny Abshier and athletic director Mike Green attended the closed session to talk with the board. Abshier had no comment on what was discussed.
Willison said he could not reveal who filed the grievance but said the employee would receive a response at or before the next meeting. He said the issue stems from events that occurred before he took over as superintendent.
Upon returning from the hearing, no action was taken by the board.
In other business, the board • Approved a bid of $ 15, 200 for a new 16-by-10-foot freezer for the food service department. Willison said the freezer is intended to hold perishable items.
• Accepted the resignations of teacher / bus driver Lanny Rice, who recently filed to run for school board. Other resignations accepted included bus driver William Van Horn and elementary aide Pam Malone.
• Approved the hiring of business teacher Kelly Morris, food service employee Samantha Molz and bus driver Belinda Burgess.
• Reset the last day of school for May 22 instead of May 21 to make up for lost instruction time on two school days where parent-teacher conferences are scheduled.
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