Dierks Board Gives Superintendent More Money

The Dierks School Board has approved a salary increase for superintendent Jody Cowart.

During the regular April meeting Thursday evening, board members entered into an executive session. Once they returned to the public forum, a vote was approved to hire Charlene Tipton for an elementary teaching position. Board president Dillard McSpadden then announced the board had also discussed the potential raise for Cowart.

The raise was approved on a five to nothing vote.

The certified salary schedule is being increased to cover state requirements for the next few years. In the 20/21 school year, the state requires districts to begin certified teacher pay at 33 thousand 800 dollars. Next year’s beginning salary at Dierks will be 34 thousand 475 dollars. State law has set the beginning salary for a new teacher with a master’s degree to be 38 thousand 450 dollars. The Dierks starting salary will be above state requirements by 316 dollars.

Concerning the district’s classified salary schedule, employees will be increased to 11 dollars per hour with the beginning of the next school year to meet the state’s minimum wage law. Superintendent Cowart said 23 of the district’s 31 classified employees will see the increase. The eight employees who are already above the 11 dollar figure will receive a two percent pay increase.