Mason County Faculty District Superintendent Rick Ross’ contract was renewed throughout a particular assembly of the board of training on Wednesday.
Current on the assembly have been Mason County Superintendent of Colleges Rick Ross and MCBOE members Vicky Lowe, Lamont Johnson, Michael Coleman and Karen Osborne together with Kelly Caudill as authorized counsel. Board member Ron Rosel was absent.
Ross’ contract is efficient as of July 1, 2023, and expires on June 30, 2027. He mentioned all the pieces in his new contract is similar as his contract from 2018, besides he was alleged to obtain a 5 % enhance which he is not going to obtain.
Based on the brand new contract, the bottom wage for Ross is similar as his present wage at $210,586 per 12 months plus advantages.
Moreover, the district will reimburse Ross for the precise price of his worker portion of funds made on behalf of Ross to the Kentucky Trainer Retirement, together with quantities made attributable to his sick days, trip days and annual depart payout.
In the course of the time period of his contract, the board agreed to offer group time period life insurance coverage, the quantity would be the similar as his present base as an worker profit out there to directors within the district. Per the contract, Ross and his household can even obtain well being and dental insurance coverage of Ross’ selecting from a bunch plan out there by the district, together with a $2,000 board-paid versatile spending account yearly.
Ross is entitled to 12 sick days per 12 months and 25 paid days of annual depart per 12 months. He’s not permitted to build up greater than 60 days of annual depart at any time.
Skilled depart for the summer time months is an entitlement taken under consideration case by case with prior board approval for superintendents.
The board will reimburse Ross for all journey bills, lodging and subsistence bills in line with board coverage because it applies to all different faculty workers.
Fringe advantages for Ross per the contract in recognition of the very fact Ross’s duties usually require him to make use of his private automobile, the board pays him a automobile allowance of $550 monthly.
Different advantages embody an iPad and laptop computer and an extra $150 monthly as a expertise allowance to offset the prices of information plans and cell telephones not supplied by the district however important to his place.
Ross signed the contract which states he’ll dedicate his time, consideration and vitality to the enterprise of the MCPS district which incorporates participation in group organizations and occasions.
“It’s basically the identical contract I’ve been working below since 2018. The spreadsheet reveals financial savings generated solely within the central workplace since 2013. Not changing two full-time and two part-time positions has saved $2.7 million. I’ve saved $2 million by reallocating federal {dollars}. This covers the price of my contract a number of instances. Now we have made $40 million in services enhancements with over half of that coming from the state, not Mason County. Our college students earn about $1 million per 12 months due in twin credit score to the rise in twin credit score choices since 2013. We provide 30 profession pathways which is triple what was once and double what different space excessive colleges supply,” Ross mentioned.
Ross additionally needed it famous that the fund stability was projected to be damaging $1.1 million upon his arrival in 2013. The stability is now practically $7 million, nearly an $8 million turnaround.
“Tax charges have been elevated by the board simply two-three instances within the final 20-25 years,” he mentioned.
Additionally on the agenda have been informational gadgets supplied by Ross concerning updates on coverage and procedures, meals service and potential licensed and categorised jobs lists and pay schedules.
“Categorized people now not want a highschool diploma, we are able to rent with a GED, which I feel is an effective factor,” Ross mentioned.
Ross disclosed school and workers are now not required to offer an affidavit for sick depart however commented that they’d by no means actually been required to offer one.
A monetary report supplied by Finance Officer Lisa Moreland for the month of Might was offered to the board and a duplicate might be obtained upon request to the MCBOE as it’s a matter of public report.
The board then accredited the consent agenda and the person approval agenda together with a number of initiatives offered by Architect Craig Aossey.
Attainable building initiatives offered by Aossey for the board to think about a brand new tennis court docket, softball subject, a brand new cover for Mason County Intermediate Faculty, and lighting for the soccer subject amongst different initiatives.
Based on Aossey these are solely initiatives to think about, the board can take away any venture they don’t suppose is required presently. He additionally mentioned presently there are usually not any bids (contractors will bid on a venture and the board decides what bid to simply accept) as a result of presently these things are exploratory and he was solely requesting approval to discover every possibility. The board accredited this merchandise.
One attendee of the assembly requested the board why they appeared to be skipping the general public remark portion often seen on the board agenda.
Coleman responded that they weren’t allowing remark based on board coverage in regard to specially-called conferences.