Rogers School Board approves land purchase

Board also approves salary increases and bonuses

ROGERS -- School Board members at Tuesday's meeting approved buying land for the district's Crossroads program.

Officials agreed to buy 1.03 acres on North Second Street. The intent is to renovate the property for the district's alternative learning environment program, according to meeting documents. The offer to purchase the property for $645,000 was made March 9.

Board Action

Rogers’ School Board approvedat Tuesday’s meeting:

• Susan Bush becoming the principal at Bonnie Grimes Elementary School.

• Changing the increase in the nurse’s salary schedule from 1.1299 percent to $1,000.

• Moving health paraprofessionals to a different salary schedule.

• Renewing the student insurance plan with an annual premium of $11,982.

Source: Staff Report

The program is now at the Annex, 2922 S. First St.

The program is called Crossroads, said Jim White, chief operations officer. It allows the district to serve unique student needs, said Robert Moore, assistant superintendent for secondary curriculum and instruction. Students in the program meet multiple criteria, such as the need for a smaller environment, being behind in credits, discipline issues and trouble adjusting at their schools

New Technology High School is also in the Annex and is growing, Moore said.

The new property would allow Crossroads to be moved so New Technology High School can expand, said Superintendent Janie Darr.

The high school has about 542 students, said Lance Arbuckle, principal. Officials plan for the school to have 700 students during the 2016-2017 school year and 900 students during the 2017-2018 school year, Moore said.

Crossroads has 180 students, Moore said. Officials don't intend to increase the number of students at the new building.

The property sits at 305 N. Second St, and Antonio Perez is the owner, according to online Benton County real estate records. A 15,480-square-foot building sits on the property.

The property is a 1/2 mile from the district's administration building at 500 W. Walnut St.

Officials hope to add 7,500 square feet to the building, White said. They hope this will bring the building to about 22,000 square feet.

Officials plan for the new location to open in fall 2017, Darr said. White projected the renovation will cost $3.7 million, excluding the purchase price.

School Board members also approved base salary increases for the 2016-17 school year and bonuses for the current school year.

The base salary increases are an addition of $500 to certified staff, according to meeting documents. The base salary would increase from $44,250 to $44,750 for a starting teacher with a bachelor's degree.

The last salary increase for certified and classified employees was two years ago, said Jake Haak, chief financial officer.

The approved bonuses are one-time, according to meeting documents. The bonuses will be $500 for full-time certified staff and 1.1299 percent up to $500 for classified staff. Bonuses for certified staff who don't work full time will depend on the number of hours they work, Haak said. Someone who works half-time will get half the bonus, and someone who works quarter-time will get a quarter of the bonus.

Certified employees don't get bonuses every year, Haak said. Whether bonuses are given depends on the budget and student growth.

NW News on 04/20/2016

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