By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

A salary schedule study for Chilton County Schools will begin in May.

Superintendent Tommy Glasscock told the board of education during its April 18 meeting that Criterion Financial Consultants will begin the salary study the first week of May.

In addition to developing a narrative to give instructions for how the salary schedule would be implemented, the study will also be used to provide information on whether it would be feasible to add paraprofessionals and bus drivers to the school system’s step-pay plan.

Paraprofessionals and bus drivers have asked to be included in the school system’s step pay plan, after realizing all other employees were on step pay. A step-pay plan has built in raises at certain levels for years of service and position, if the funding is available.

Board of Education member Jim Shannon brought up the subject during the April 18 board meeting. He suggested that if the board was not going to move forward with adding the employees to the step pay plan, then it should consider a 3-percent raise for these employees and custodians in the next school year’s budget.

“I think the board needs to consider this as a sign of good faith. We keep delaying this,” Shannon said.

Glasscock recommended that the salary schedule study be complete before the board takes any action. The study could provide helpful information in either decision.

Board member Curtis Smith  said the board needed some numbers in front of them before they made a decision

The school system’s financials are up-to-date, and Chief School Financial Officer LaVerne Williams presented March’s financials to the board during the meeting, saying the revenues and expenditures are at the levels the should be when compared to the full-year budget.

Bookkeeper workshops will be held next week in preparation for the 2017-2018 fiscal year budget preparations.

The board also approved the contracts for principals.

Board member Pam Price asked why the principal at LeCroy Technical Center made more than principals at K-12 schools. Glasscock said the principal of LeCroy also serves as the career tech director for the entire county. Price said the principal at LeCroy does not have as many students as a K-12 principal and should not make as much. She commented that other school systems do not pay the career tech principal more even when he serves as the county-wide director.

Also during the meeting the board approved:

— Moving a preschool special education classroom from Clanton Elementary to Jemison Elementary School

— Reviewing changes for 30 days on a Federal Programs policy (Policy 6.1.2 part C) and Administrator Internship policy.

— Dr. Erica Farnham as assistant principal for Maplesville High School, starting May 1.

— The retirements of 16 employees, including two library media specialists, two maintenance employees, 11 teachers, one principal and a CNP. One resignation was also approved.

— English Language Learner Camp for this summer

— Conducting a feasibility study for a field house at Isabella High School.