Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Steamboat school officials tonight will consider 2010-11 contracts for Superintendent Shalee Cunningham and district administrators, along with the Collaborative Bargaining Team’s compensation proposal for district staff.

The Steamboat Springs School Board’s consideration of the contracts, salaries and benefits occurs as the Steamboat Springs School District is working to address a projected $2 million budget shortfall in the next academic year. The deficit is the result of less funding expected from the state, increased costs for employee health insurance and retirement benefits, and fewer gifts from the Education Fund Board, which administers the city’s half-cent sales tax for education.

In addition to the pay decisions, district Finance Director Dale Mellor will brief School Board members about three ballot measures that Colorado voters will consider in Novem­ber. The measures, Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 and 61, are aimed at decreasing taxes and reducing government spending and would reduce the district’s revenue sources.

Money is a touchy subject in local educational circles.

Last week, the Steamboat Pilot & Today received calls from concerned parents and district staff members who cited rumors that Cunningham requested a three-year contract with a salary increase and severance package.

But Cunning­ham and School Board President Robin Crossan said the rumors are just rumors and aren’t true.

“I never asked for a salary increase, and I wouldn’t ask for a salary increase in these economic times,” Cunningham said Friday. “We’ve never talked about it. It’s never been on the table.”

Crossan said after the School Board discusses Cunningham’s contract in executive session, the information about her contract will be made public.

“Rest assured, there is no increase,” Crossan said Sunday.

Secretary to the superintendent Debbie Ginesta, who prepares the meeting agendas for the School Board, said the Pilot & Today couldn’t receive a copy of Cunningham’s proposed contract renewal before tonight’s meeting because it hadn’t been completed.

Cunningham’s existing contract expires June 30. Her first contract began July 1, 2008. According to the automatic renewal section of the contract, if the School Board doesn’t inform Cunningham in writing by June 1 that she won’t be renewed, the contract will be renewed for one year, beginning July 1.

She said last week that the School Board had talked about a three-year extension, but that would be revealed after the executive session.

Cunningham’s base salary is $150,000 and the contract states that it “may be increased from time to time by written addendum to this agreement.”

Also at tonight’s meeting, the School Board will consider renewing district administrator contracts for 2010-11. Crossan said the renewals don’t include salary increases for administrators next school year.

Each existing administrator will be considered in the same role with the exception of Strawberry Park Co-Principal Michele Miller, who will become the assistant principal for both district elementary schools next year, according to her proposed contract.

Other district administrators include Soda Creek Principal Judy Harris, Strawberry Park Principal Celia Dunham, Steamboat Springs Middle School Principal Tim Bishop, Steamboat Springs Middle School Assistant Principal Jerry Buelter, Steamboat Springs High School Principal Kevin Taulman, and Steamboat Spr­ings High School Assistant Pri­ncipal Marty Lamansky.

Board members also will consider approving the Colla­borative Bargaining Team package for district staff members for 2010-11. According to the agenda, district staff members voted to accept the package April 8.

The package doesn’t include salary step increases for staff but does grant increases for academic advancement for licensed or nonlicensed employees for next school year. The package states that the Collaborative Bargaining Team would meet after the Oct. 1, 2010, student count to re-evaluate state funding and other budget constraints.