Pinckneyville school board, High School Education Association reach agreement

Representatives from Pinckneyville Community High School and the Pinckneyville High School Education Association sat down July 15 and 16 without legal representation to hammer out a two-year agreement which was approved by the Board of Education Monday evening.

Superintendent Keith Hagene said the legal counsel for both groups is reviewing the contract which provides a $400 increase to base pay. Teachers can expect to receive base pay plus experience steps of 1.78 percent. No additional experience step raises were specified in the contract. However, an additional experience step was was added to the bottom of the schedule for each year. Insurance and Teacher's Retirement System contributions continue at current levels.

Summer stipends were reinstated. The board voted to vacate their action to not renew summer physical education stipends immediately after approving the agreement.

In other business, the board:

n authorized Supt. Hagene to place the 2014-2015 budget on file at least 30 days prior to the September board meeting. Hagene said he expects the budget to be available to the public by Aug. 24. The board will vote on the budget at the Sept. 22 meeting.

• accepted the resignations of Luke Montgomery as a Special Education Aide and Bryant Hale as Asst. Softball Coach.

• hired William Segelhorst to teach Science and Caitlin Jo Williams as a Reading Specialist Aide.

• employed Catherine Kohnen as Asst. Volleyball Coach, Garrett Huggins as Head Wrestling Coach, Luke Thuston as Asst. Football Coach and Bryant Hale as volunteer Asst. Softball Coach.