Theresa Swope

A special called meeting of the Baldwin County School Board resulted in a freeze in step-placements, annual raises for employees based on their length of service.

The measure was recommended to the board "to alleviate some of the effects of proration," by freezing school system employees' salaries for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

"We currently pay our teachers above the state matrix," Public Relations Director Terry Wilhite said. The salary freeze would hold in place current salaries and would put new employees at the school's minimum salary level or the state's, "whichever is less."

"If we approve the salary schedule freeze or a reduced salary schedule, it would equate 22 positions," District 7 Board Member Tracy Roberts said. "I would like to see that. We will see an increase in enrollment by the 15th of August and will need those teaching units."

However, she went on to say that she would like to see those employees compensated once proration is over and the economy is back on an upswing.

"I don't think any of us want to see the salary freeze, but I don't want these people to be permanent victims of the economy. Things will change and money will start coming in. I'd like to see incremental raises until they are back up to their appropriate salaries," she said.

The freeze will not include those on the teachers or nurses salary schedules.

"Alternative arrangements have been included to accommodate step increases for employees on these two salary schedules with minimal financial impact to the system," stated the letter of recommendation for the freeze.

When the concept of the freeze was first introduced, school system employees were given the chance to voice their opinions. Roberts said she had received several emails regarding the freeze, but that only a few were against the idea.

"In my case, there was not a great number against the freeze," she said.

District 6 member Robert Callahan Jr. said he had received the same response. "I've gotten some of the same emails and some verbal comments, but when I was able to show that jobs were saved, they were in favor of it," he said.

One of the residents attending the meeting asked about the stimulus money that school systems across the nation had received, including Baldwin County.

Callahan said there were several reasons the stimulus money could not prevent the freeze.

"We had hoped there would be some flexibility in the stimulus money, because the loss we have experienced over the last few years has been about $38 million," he said.

Unfortunately, he said, the stimulus money can not be used for personnel. Additionally, he said proration is not a two-way street.

"The state prorates what it gives to us, but it does not prorate what we have to give them. We pay about $8 million in the 10 mill tax," he said.

The rest of the meeting was fairly routine, with the board unanimously approving retirement and resignations, non-renewals of contracts and other necessary housekeeping items. That is, until board members got to the agenda item dealing with employee hires.

Of 41 employees being considered, all but one were rehires. District 3 Board Member Elmer McDaniel asked that the one new hire be split out from the rest. He said he was concerned that this was a new hire instead of rehiring someone to fill that position.

"This is not a rehire, and our intention was to give priority to those who don't have a job within the system," he said.

District 4 member Norm Moore said this was not someone being hired to replace a non-renewal contract.

"This is a replacement for someone who transferred to Fairhope High School," he said.

District 5 member Angie Swiger said she could see both sides, but ultimately agreed with Moore.

"I agree with Mr. McDaniel, but there are going to be instances where principals have to fill a position with someone from outside," she said.

McDaniel's motion to split the list overwhelmingly failed, and all hires were approved.