TEACHERS MUST WAIT ON CONTRACTS

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education lacked the two members needed for a quorum at a meeting Thursday, which means teachers will have to wait at least another week before they receive their contracts.

Board members Bob Blank, Steve Wright and Dr. Bob Fox are ineligible to vote on teachers' salaries because each has a relative who works for the district. Only two of the four remaining board members were able to attend the special meeting, so no action was taken on that agenda item, said Dr. Dan Tallent, superintendent.

This was the board's second attempt to make a final decision on the salary schedule, which includes an average raise of 2 percent for teachers. The first attempt was rescheduled to allow administrators time to meet with a salary committee from the Community Teachers Association.

The CTA originally rejected the proposed schedule, saying it wanted the district to rework fringe benefits to account for a tighter budget. But last week the organization's salary committee "agreed to disagree" with administrators and accept the schedule.

"I didn't have a quorum of members that could vote on the teachers' salaries," said Tallent. "We'll try to have a special meeting next Thursday at noon so we can get the contracts out as quickly as possible."

There is no Missouri law mandating a specific date contracts are to be delivered to teachers. Missouri law does state, however, that districts must employ teachers at the present year's salary until a formal contract and salary package have been agreed upon by board members.

Tallent said enough members were present to take action on several other agenda items during the meeting. Board members approved a classified salary schedule for all noncertified personnel, he said. Salaried personnel got 2 percent raises while everyone else got regular schedule increases, he said.

Board members also elected Steve Wright vice-president of the board, replacing Terry Taylor, who resigned last month. In annual business, Tallent was appointed the district's authorized representative, which means he is authorized to represent the district on all grant applications, federal records, and other matters.

Business manager, Dr. Steve DelVecchio, was appointed secretary of the board, and board office manager Laverne Smith was appointed board treasurer.

Board members also held a work session during the meeting to review end-of-year finances and financial projections for the coming year.