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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) In July the Valley City School board approved pay increases for administrators and staff members. This year, teachers signed their contracts with the school district before July 1 in compliance with a court ordered ruling issued this year stemming from an 8 month impasse with the school district.
Valley City Education Association president David Corwin says the teachers believed it would have been unwise to ask for an increase in their base salaries with the district in a less than favorable financial situation. Corwin was referring to cuts the school board made in April stemming from an anticipated shortfall with the upcoming budget.
But the financial picture brightened in July due to a decrease in the estimated operational costs totaling $237,000 in the district. After that announcement the proposed cuts in April where restored and raises for administrators and staff members were unanimously approved by the board during their mid-July annual meeting.
In this interview Corwin explains why the VCEA was focusing on getting the nine member Health Insurance Committee in place before pursuing any pay increases for teachers. However, he says had we known that the financial picture was greatly improved from the April estimate we may have voted to pursue negotiations with the board.
Superintendent Dean Koppelman says as the financial picture improved he felt comfortable recommending to the board to reinstate two teaching positions and allowing two other positions reduced to 3/4 time to go back to full time. He says the proposed cuts in April were based on the best information we had at that time.
A few members in the public questioned why the school board would approve increases for administrators and staff members of up to 5 percent with the school district’s current financial situation.
In the following extended interview with Koppelman and school board chairwoman Joyce Braunagel the two defended their position as to why the board approved the raises for administrators and they questioned why the VCEA didn’t make a request to open up negotiations before the July 1 deadline.
Koppelman talked about what led to a better financial picture for the school district.
Meanwhile, Koppelman and Braunagel defended the boards decision to hire an Activities Director. Koppelman says it’s something he should have recommended years ago. He explains why the position has been a welcome addition for the district.
Listed below are the base salaries of administrators and other staff members in the Valley City School district. Note, annual salaries may be higher with teacher retirement, FICA, Annuities and other contract agreements per individual.
Superintendent: Dean Koppelman. $152,000. Last year $145,000.
Business Manager: Linda Heit. $95,777. Last year $92,093.
Building Supervisor: Rick Anderson. $77,612. Last year $74,627.
Technology Coordinator: Bryan Kriewald. $84,206. Last year $80,967.
Jefferson Principal: Troy Miller. $93,579. Last year $89,980.
Washington Principal & Title I coordinator: Chad Lueck. $76,960. Last year $74,000.
Junior High School Principal: Dan Larson. $98,411. Last year $94,626.
High School Principal: Kristi Brandt. $103,097. Last year $99,131.
Activities Director: Martin (Marty) Bratrude. $79,040. Last year $76,000.
School Board Members Salary: $4,250. Last year $3,750.
Listed below are the base salaries of teachers and other staff members in the Valley City School district. Note, annual salaries maybe higher with teacher retirement, FICA, Annuities and other contract agreements per individual.
JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHERS BAKALAR, TREVOR $ 56,832.00
BEILKE, DEBRA $ 68,848.00
BJORUM, DAN $ 57,232.00
CALLAHAN, COLLEEN $ 58,032.00
CARLSON, BROCK $ 33,600.00
CORWIN, DAVID $ 68,048.00
COURTNEY, CONNIE $ 58,432.00
CUMMINGS, SHEILA $ 58,432.00
ENGELHARD, BRIAN $ 68,448.00
FOTH, CAROL $ 58,432.00
HANSEN, TREVAR $ 55,104.00
HEPNER, DANIEL $ 39,312.00
HORNER, KATHLEEN $ 68,848.00
KJELLAND, TOM $ 53,344.00
KLABO, CYNTHIA $ 49,376.00
KLINGENBERG, MELVIN $ 58,432.00
KVIEN, PEGGY $ 58,432.00
COUNSELOR LAMBRECHT, JENNIFER $ 39,357.36
LARSON, SHEILA $ 37,696.00
LEGRAND, TERRI $ 66,048.00
LIBRARY LERUD, SARAH $ 69,680.64
MANLOVE, JOELLE $ 52,544.00
MURRAY, WILLIAM $ 68,048.00
NIELSON, MATTHEW $ 49,376.00
OLDS, MISTY $ 41,328.00
ROEHRICH, SCOTT $ 67,648.00
ROELFSEMA, STEPHEN $ 42,128.00
SHANENKO, KRISTI $ 52,400.00
COUNSELOR SORENSEN, ALAN $ 69,200.93
STARR, WAYLAN $ 68,848.00
TOPPEN, RANDY $ 68,048.00
VANBRUGGEN, ANGELA $ 44,144.00
WAGAR, EDITH $ 58,032.00
ZINKE, SHEILA $ 58,432.00
ALT ED KUEHN, CARMELLE $ 68,448.00
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY
GR 1 ALTRINGER, TARA $ 52,752.00
MUSIC ASKEROOTH, FRANCES $ 58,432.00
GR 2 BECKER, SUSAN $ 57,632.00
GR 1 BJERKE, WANDA $ 68,848.00
GR 3 BRECKHEIMER, TONYA $ 52,000.00
TITLE I GULMON, CHRISSIE $ 48,448.00
K JACOBSON, DARLA $ 68,848.00
LIBRARY KNODLE, RHONDA $ 58,432.00
GR 2 CSR KRIEWALD, JENNIFER $ 40,512.00
GR 2 KVILVANG, JILL $ 58,032.00
K EGGERT-LAHLUM, KERIANN $ 60,608.00
GR 3 MCDANIEL, WENDY $ 57,632.00
GR 1 OST, NANCY $ 58,432.00
COUNSELOR PETERSON, TRAVIS $ 36,960.00
GR 3 POTRATZ, NATALIE $ 59,808.00
K POWERS, NICOLE $ 56,704.00
GR 3 ROEHRICH, CARINA $ 47,776.00
GR 2 SCHLITTENHARDT, CONNIE $ 58,032.00
PHY ED SUFFICOOL, BRADLEY $ 52,144.00
K-3 PERF STR TAYLOR, JILL 83.5% $ 46,786.72
GR 1 THORESON, JENNIFER $ 44,144.00
TITLE I TOSO, ALAINE $ 58,432.00
K WILMES, WENDI $ 41,328.00
WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY
GR 6 BEAUCHMAN, JAN $ 68,448.00
GR 4 BOE, NATALIE $ 68,048.00
MUSIC BOPP, DEBORAH $ 58,432.00
TITLE I BURNS, JILL $ 58,432.00
GR 6 CORBIN, ANDREA $ 50,800.00
GR 4 DOCKTER, DALLAS $ 57,856.00
GR 4 GLANDT, TARA $ 43,744.00
GR 6 GOELLER, SANDRA $ 68,848.00
GR 4 CSR GOVEN, REBECCA $ 37,696.00
GR 4 HALVORSON, MARY $ 58,432.00
GR 6 JENSEN, ANDREA $ 45,696.00
COUNSELOR KOCKA, VANESSA $ 63,968.00
GR 5 KOHLER, KRISTI $ 58,032.00
ART TEACHER KRUEGER, STEPHANI $ 33,600.00
GR 5 LENTZ, KATHLEEN $ 68,848.00
PHY ED LINDTEIGEN, LIZABETH $ 35,616.00
GR 6 MCDANIEL, JAMES $ 56,832.00
GR 5 NUDELL, RHONDA $ 68,848.00