Major raises OK'd for classified school employees

Classified employees at Carson City School District will get a 6 percent pay raise this year and another 4 percent next July year under a contract approved Tuesday night by the school board.

Associate Superintendent Richard Stokes said that is the first of four labor groups to settle with the school district. He said negotiations are still in progress with teachers, administrators and nurses.

"We did have times when things were less prosperous for the district," he told the board, referring to the 2 percent raises those workers received in 2005 and the 4 percent in 2006.

Classified workers include teachers assistants, secretaries, cafeteria workers and maintenance workers among others.

That would indicate teachers and the others in negotiations are being offered similar increases. If so, that would add 2 percent on top of the 4 percent approved for teachers this fiscal year by the Legislature.

Stokes told the board in return, classified workers agreed to add three days to their work year - which he said will be dedicated to training.

He said the district also agreed to allow all instructional assistants in the district to receive the pay given to "para-professional" assistants if they qualify. The designation and pay is currently only for those who qualify under No Child Left Behind and serve in Title 1 schools.

For classified staff with a bachelor's degree, Stokes said the contract will add $1,500 a year to their pay. For an associate's degree the amount is $1,000 and for a professional certification such as welding or HVAC maintenance, $500 a year.

There was little discussion and the vote to approve the package was unanimous.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.