Fort Madison Community School District Superintendent Dr. Erin Slater will receive a raise and another year will be added to her contract.
Slater’s contract had been discussed during a closed session of the June 6 board business session.
The contract was amended to reflect a 3.2% increase in his regular salary to $193,716. The contract was extended from 2024 to 2025.
Other benefits remained unchanged as provided for in the contract, including a buy-back of vacation days, sick leave, health and dental insurance, long-term disability insurance and life insurance,
In addition, professional organizations will be paid by the council, as well as for state and national meetings and conventions. A vehicle was provided for work purposes and Slater will be reimbursed for the use of his personal vehicle for school purposes.
The 2022-23 school year will be Slater’s seventh as superintendent.
In a press release, Slater said, “I am excited to continue the important work for the Fort Madison Community School District. We are committed to our journey of creating and sustaining professional learning communities with the ultimate goal of improving student learning. »
Slater earned his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Master of Science, Specialist in Education, and Ph.D.
Board member Brad Menke said he felt there would be further discussion at Monday’s meeting. It was the only vote against approving Slater’s contract.
Student fees
The $5 fee for high school marching band gowns and $20 for marching band uniforms will be waived. Slater said following conversations with the school’s administration, there was a feeling that there was a “lack of fairness” because students involved in other extracurricular activities and athletics do not pay these fees.
“So in an effort to ensure fairness so that we don’t continue to charge those two pieces,” she said. “The group instrument rental will remain the same because, as a tangible thing, we have to acquire and then rent for students who do not purchase their own instruments to participate.”
Fees for textbooks and e-resources are unchanged, at $30 for elementary students, $40 for middle school, and $50 for high school.
Nutrition
For the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years, school meals for all students were free, thanks to a USDA program. This program has ended and families will again need to apply for free or reduced lunch status. Breakfast continues to be provided free of charge to all students.
Food Services Director Tiffany Fullhart said that looking historically, estimating what meal costs would have been last year if the district had charged, it was decided to charge $3 for kindergarten through fifth grade and $3.25 for grades 6 through 12. The milk will cost $0.45.
Fullhart said rising food costs have contributed to higher prices.
In the 2019-20 school year, meals were $2.45 for kindergarten through fifth grade and $2.70 for grades six through 12.
Other schools are having the same struggles, Fullhart said.
Bids for bread and dairy products were also approved by the council.
