PF school budget raises pay 2.5 percent

POST FALLS — Post Falls School District's fiscal 2019 budget includes a 2.5 percent salary increase for all employees, the addition of a fourth school-resource officer and a security dean at River City Middle School.

The general fund budget will increase from $37.6 million this year to $39.1 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

"That increase mostly reflects an increase in the (state's) salary-based apportionment for staff," Superintendent Jerry Keane said. "The state has done a good job funding the five-year plan to increase teachers' salaries recommended by the governor's task force four years ago."

The budget does not include an increase in local property taxes because school districts, unlike cities, can't raise taxes without a public vote.

The district and Post Falls Education Association came to an agreement on a contract after three meetings.

"We greatly appreciate the work of our wonderful staff and are pleased to be able to provide an increase to their compensation," said School Board Chairman Dave Paul.

The total cost for raises, including movement for experience and education, was $1.094 million.

Jake Smulkowski, the PFEA's lead negotiator, said the teachers union believes the Legislature needs to continue the career ladder funding model to help districts retain experienced teachers.

"The pay increase this year is at least comparable to the projected rate of inflation for next year," he said. "Post Falls is in a difficult situation being adjacent to Washington state, where education is funded at higher levels."

Smulkowski said the association and district discuss issues all year, which enables both sides to jumpstart the collective bargaining process and reduce the amount of meetings.

Keane said the district's fourth SRO will provide more security coverage at elementary schools.

The security dean position at RCMS is a classified position that ensures students and staffs are safe. Such personnel do not carry a weapon.

"We have had one at both Post Falls High School and Post Falls Middle School for several years," Keane said. "They work side-by-side with the administration and SROs to make sure the campus is secure."

Keane said the district absorbed $130,000 of additional health insurance costs.

He said the district was able to address to some extent all 10 of its top priorities identified last spring during a meeting that included staff, parents and school board members. Among the priorities were: increasing salaries for classified employees, counseling, behavior support, school safety, upgrades to older buildings and math and science curriculums.

The district will receive $351,800 from the state's lottery fund for building maintenance projects.

Keane said the district may float a funding proposal to voters as early as next spring for a new elementary school to keep pace with new growth and to update existing facilities. The district is currently seeking an architect.

The district's long-range facility plan recently updated by a committee of 30 staff, parents and patrons identified a new elementary school estimated to cost $12.5 million and upgrades of the five oldest schools estimated at a total of $7 million as needs that should be addressed "as soon as reasonably possible."

The elementary school would likely be built on a 10.5-acre site the district has secured in the Foxtail subdivision east of Highway 41.