The remaining funds will then be distributed across the board. Teachers whose pay does not fall in the state's top-10 ranking will get more of an increase based on the lump sum amount and those whose salaries do fall in the top 10 may get less of a raise. During the 1999-2000 school year, FSSD ranked in the top 10 for all steps for teachers with bachelor's degrees plus additional education hours and master's degrees with additional education up to 30 hours. The district also ranks consistently in the top 10 for teachers with 17 years or more experience holding higher degrees. The areas not within the state's top 10 ranking for pay are the steps for teachers with master's degrees and up to 14 years of experience, master's degrees plus 45 additional hours of education and up to 16 years of experience, educational specialist with up to 15 years of experience, and doctorates with up to 15 years of experience.
State law allows teachers to use sick leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member.
The added bereavement days would be used for deaths outside of the immediate family and would be lost each year if not used. Finally, Director of Schools Janice Shelby asked the board to hire permanent substitute teachers in Freedom Middle and Freedom Intermediate schools as part of a pilot program this coming year and to endorse a principal performance review program linked with monetary bonuses for school administrators. Shelby asked for both proposals last year, but there was not enough funding for either in the 1999-2000 budget. She acknowledged that this could be the case again this year, but said she still believes both proposals are needed. Substitutes are a thorn in my side.