Raises for Hennessey Public School certified and support staff were approved at Monday night’s school board meeting.

Extra duty salaries will also get a boost.

The increases, which take effect July 1, were approved after an hourlong executive session to discuss recommendations by Superintendent Jason Sternberger.

All board members were present and approved the raises: President Luke Lough, Vice President Cristopher Choate, Clerk David Tillman, Patrick Griffin and Dr. James Matthew Matousek.

Support salaries • Substitute teachers

• Substitute teachers will have a $10 a day increase (new rates $70 a day for non-certified and $80 for certified teachers).

• Route bus drivers from $22.50 per hour to $25 per hour.

• Support staff (custodians, paraprofession als, teacher assistants) raised from $10.60 to $11.75 an hour for the first year, then $12 (2-3 years), and up. Any new or current support employee can begin paying into the State Teachers’ Retirement System and after one year, the school will begin paying 7%.

• Secretaries for site and administration offices from $10.75 for first year to $12 and elevated steps plus 7% to retirement system if employee paid in for one year. Additional hourly increases are for employees with college or bilingual.

Certified employees

• All certified employees will have their 7% TRS portion paid.

Extra duty assignments

• All student-based extracurricular organizations, athletic or non-athletic staff will have longevity stipends 5-9 years, $1,250 per year; 10-14 years, $2,500 per year.

High school math teacher hired

The board also hired Matthew Thomas of Alva as a high school math teacher. He taught 7-12 grade math at Fowler Public Schools this past school year; Hardesty Public Schools, 2018-2020; ministry assistant for Team-Kid (grades 1-6) at FBC Alva, 2011-17; supplemental instructor for NWOSU mathematics department, 2016, and student teacher, Waynoka Public Schools, fall 2017.

He received his bachelor’s degree in math education in December 2017. He is certified to teach advanced mathematics grades 5-12.

(Ed. note: See Sunday’s edition for more board discussion and action.)