Deciding Not To Decide, Yet

Faced with some difficult decisions on stipends, the St Joseph School Board decided not to decide, at least not yet.

It was standing-room-only at the board’s meeting room Monday night, with an overflow crowd observing from the hallway.

The board decided to appoint a committee to take a close look at the entire stipend issue, including whether some stipends are large enough. That committee, made up of board members Dennis Snethen and Kappy Hodges, along with teachers, staff and community members, could report back as early as next month.

Among the things they’ll be looking at are whether some educators, such as band teachers and athletic coaches, are paid enough for the extra work.

The board also approved a new transfer policy for school kids affected by the redistricting required when two new schools open later this year. Sixth graders, and even some fifth graders, will be given the opportunity to opt out of moving to one of the new schools.

The stipend issue has been an escalating aggravation, largely because the district administration opted to delay reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth for months after they were paid.