By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com
The Arkadelphia Board of Education on Tuesday gave unanimous approval to the teacher salary schedule for the 2024-25 school year.
Each year the school board is required to adopt a salary schedule ahead of issuing teacher contracts for the upcoming school year.
Current 190-day contract employees returning in 2024-25 will receive the same base salary as outlined in their current contracts. Teachers new to the district will earn $50,000 in keeping with the Arkansas LEARNS Act.
“It is our understanding that a new funding matrix is being developed and there are some salary topics to be addressed in the 2025 legislative session that will impact the salary schedule for 2025-26,” Superintendent Nikki Thomas said. “This should provide us with a better understanding to develop a new salary schedule” for the 2025-26 school year.
Thomas presented proposed stipends that had been approved in a joint decision by administration and the district’s Personnel Policy Committee. Thomas said the proposal was a result of studying the average salary schedules in 10 districts below and above Arkadelphia’s average daily membership, as well as the state average and districts within the Dawson Education Cooperative Services region.
Tuesday’s action increases the middle school and elementary school principal stipend by $7,000 each, bringing those totals to $17,530 and $15,579, respectively. The high school and elementary assistant principal stipends increased by $2,000 each, bringing those totals to $8,512 and $4,614, respectively.
Licensed teachers will be given a one-time retention bonus at the beginning of the school year; the amount depends on their longevity with the district. Teachers at the district 5-9 years will receive $500; 10-14 years, $1,000; 15-19 years, $1,500; 20+ years, $2,000. About 93 employees qualify for this bonus.
The board also approved a one-time recruitment bonus for fully licensed educators in shortage areas identified by the Arkansas Department of Education, such as special education. Those teachers will be offered a $1,000 sign-on bonus. Teachers holding a masters degree or above will receive a $500 bonus; 76 employees qualify for this bonus.
Additionally, all current employees returning for the 2024-25 school year will receive a one-time loyalty retention bonus of $1,000.
Thomas said the loyalty bonus will cost the district about $186,000 after factoring in benefits, and assured the board that the district has the funds to absorb the cost thanks to conservative budgeting that resulted in a surplus in the salary fund.
Before taking a vote, board member Kenneth Harris asked whether the PPC had consulted with other teachers about the proposal. PPC members Dawn Forthman and Caroline Reed both said their peers were “receptive” and “appreciative” of the proposed stipends.
A motion by Gina White to approve the stipends and bonuses carried unanimously.
Personnel
Following an executive session, the school board reconvened in public and approved the following personnel recommendations:
Employment
Frankie Nine, elementary teacher, Peake
Resignation
Preston Crowder, JH head boys basketball coach, Goza
Ryan Ellison, JH girls basketball/girls soccer coach, Goza
Kimberly Ellison, instructional facilitator, Perritt
Shawna Childs, first grade teacher, Perritt
Certified hire list (no change)
Jason Freeman
Austin Hollis
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