Teutopolis Board, Teachers Agree on Contract

Teutopolis school board members have ratified a three-year contract agreement with district teachers.

Teutopolis Superintendent Bill Fritcher said teachers averaged about a 3% pay increase. The contract is retroactive to the start of the school year and will continue through the 2020-2021 school year.

The Board also granted salary increases to non-union employees, with the same increases.

Board members discussed adding extra-curricular positions, but took no action at this time. The Board accepted resignations from teachers Tim Bower and Tammy Bridges at school year's end and from Kent Probst as JV boys tennis co-coach. The Board hired Alexandria Elliott as Ag teacher and FFA sponsor, and approved Alex Goldstein as high school baseball coach volunteer. Morgan Wilson and Kyle Bourgeois were approved as student teachers. Board members discussed adding extra-curricular positions, but took no action at this time. The Board did decide to advertise for a 5th grade teaching position.

Board members approved the holiday calendar for the coming school year, with things tentatively starting with a Teachers Institute on Wednesday, August 14 and a first day for students on Thursday, August 15. The Board also scheduled a reorganizational Board meeting for April 23 at 6pm in the aftermath of the April 2 election. There are two incumbent members seeking re-election and one other individual seeking a first term. That will still leave one seat vacant. The Board will name someone to fill that seat until the next Board election two years from now.

Board members discussed the high school renovation project. Fritcher said work could begin before the end of the school year including the relocation of a main waterline west of the 2002 addition. The Board heard from Tom Thoele, who would like to build a memorial in front of the high school building in recognition of those who have brought honor to the district. The plan is to canvass the District for funding to finance the memorial. Board members are supportive of the memorial, but have not decided when and precisely where the memorial would be placed.

The Board discussed a couple of changes in a power purchasing agreement with Affordable Gas and Electric for solar energy before acting on the agreement. Board members also approved summer employees, renewed membership in the IHSA, approved extended contracts beyond the end of the school year for high school guidance counselors, and approved the annual summer library program.