Bottom Line

The board will receive a summary of progress shaping the 2002-2003 budget.

It will include details of why $2.5 million is needed for a 5 percent increase in spending on employee salaries and benefits.

The board will then vote on the teachers’ new master agreement, which contains compensation adjustments negotiated by Lawrence Education Assn.

Classified and administrative staff get an equivalent increase in salary and benefits.

Background

Here’s a breakdown of salary and benefit costs:

Switch to a new health insurance provider, $558,000.

Certified teacher raise, $1.3 million.

Classified employee pay hike, $496,593.

Administration staff raise, $180,432.

In addition, the board budgeted $380,000 for higher costs for technology, property insurance and postage. The board also set aside $170,000 to hire four elementary teachers beyond what’s called for by the district’s staffing formula.

Other business

Comment by Sue Morgan, board president; Randy Weseman, superintendent; and school board members.

Receive a summary of Quality Performance Accreditation visits to Kennedy, East Heights and Riverside schools.

Receive an update from five district administrators on efforts to improve instruction.

Consider the superintendent’s recommendation to open a sixth early-childhood classroom in the district.

Receive an update on the district’s 2002-2003 budget plan by Kathy Johnson, director of finance.

Consider the proposed 2002-2003 master agreement for teachers, which includes a 5 percent wage and benefit increase.

Consider equivalent increases in salary and benefits for classified and administrative staff.

Consider a $29,745 contract with Novell Contract Management of Provo, Utah, of an annual fee for the second year of a three-year contract for computer network software.

Consider a $90,369 contract with Dell Marketing, Round Rock, Tex., for 51 wireless laptop computers to be divided among Schwegler, Riverside and Wakarusa schools.

Consider $19,684 contract with Glencoe/McGraw Hill Publishing of Blacklick, Ohio, for new ninth-grade classes in plant and animal biology as well as ecology and environmental sciences.

Consider on final action a district policy on the new pay-to-ride bus program set to begin in August.

Consider on first-reading a new board policy outlining procedures for naming school buildings or sections of buildings for people.