The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-12-24
Teachers Split In Two
Groups Over Pay Raise
Concluded from page u

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teachers have been employed above
the salary schedule, board members
pointed out they faced the alternative
of paying above schedule or closing
the departments, since they were un-
able to fill positions at the salary
level provided by the schedule.
Among teachers now employed at
salaries higher than provided by the
schedule are: Kent Cotterman, coach,
$4,000 per pear, $748 above sched-
ule; Dwight Spayth, industrial arts,
$4,000 per year, s54s above sched-
ule; John Martin, music, S2,400 per
year, $685. above schedule; Elizabeth
Mohr, domestic science, $1,000 per
year, 1886 above schedule; Harry +.
Barnes, agriculture, half-time, ST.
500, $12 above schedule; Mrs.
Dwight Spayth, grade school, s1,700
per year; and Edna Cramer, dra-
matics, two-sevenths time, $700 per
year, 1882 above schedule.
CRITICISM OF METHODS
Principal objection of the older
teachers is said to center on sal
aries paid Mr.. and Mrs. Spayth and
Martin. Spayth was hired at the
beginning of the second semester
last year, and the other two assumed
teaching duties here last fall.
On the other hand, new instruct
ors are of the opinion that any
schedule of salary increases also
shoul dinclude them, and some of
them made statements to that eff
feet at the time they were hired by
the school board.
No criticism has been attached
TO the over-schedule salary of Cot
terman, for it has been customary
to pay higher-than-schedule rates to
the coach because of the extra time
required outside school hours with
his teams.
Before taking up the debated
item of salary schedules, however,
the board first must determine what
part of the additional $4,000 pro-
vided each year by the school levy
will go for teachers pay. In pre-
liminary discussion it has been indi-
Gated that approximately half of the
total will be required for main
tenance of buildings and equipment
After the basis of division has
been decided by the board, the form
of salary increases then will enter
into the picture.
TEACHERS VOICE OPPOSITION
Opposition to a fiat, across-the-
board increase to all teachers was
voiced at last Fridays meeting by a
delegation of instructors represent
ing those who have been on the
teaching staff for a number of years.
Spokesman for the group were w.
A. Howe, Sidney Stettler and Miss
Theresa Slusser, who presented a
salary schedule which they estimated
would raise salaries of teachers an
aggregate of $4,962, principally ben
eftting older instructors, who they
claim have not had the benefit of
pay commensurate with that OF
newer teachers.
Decision on how much of the
$4,000 will go for teachers salaries
was not reached at last Fridays
meeting of the board because of the
absence of Donavin Conrad, a mem
Der of the board finance committee
who is i'll at his home. Action was
deferred until full membership of
the board could be present.
Leland Diller, the other member
Of the finance committee, returned
last week, after leaving shortly fol-
lowing the November election, and
consideration of the matter was post
poned at that time until after his
return.
Altho the new basis of teacher pay
will not be established until the
January 8 meeting, members of the
board said salary increases made al
that time will be retroactive to Jan,
uary l.
Board members also pointed out
that the salaries set in January will
be on more or less temporary ar
rangement for the remainder of this
year, pending the drafting of new
salary schedule for the beginning of
school next fall, at which time addi-
tional state funds are anticipated
The present salary schedule has been
in effect here since the fall of 1914