Salaries set for principals, teachers for ‘20-21 year

    Salaries were set for the 2020-21 school year for Chase County Schools’ two principals and teaching staff.
    After separate closed sessions, the teachers’ base pay was set $400 higher for next year, while the board took a little different direction on the principal salaries.
    Both 7-12 Principal Jon Lechtenberg and K-6 Principal Becky Odens are earning $94,000 for the 2019-20 year.
    In addition, Lechtenberg receives an additional $7,415 as an in-lieu-of insurance payment, and is not reflected in the base salary figure.
    Next year, Odens will make $4,000 more, or $98,000, based on board action at the Feb. 11 meeting. That represents a 4.25% increase.
    Lechtenberg’s salary for next year will be $101,500, according to Board President Jeff Olsen.
    The board’s motion approved at their Feb. 11 meeting states that his total financial package will be the same as the current year.
    Olsen said the board is no longer giving administration the in-lieu-of-insurance extra benefit, but Lechtenberg’s ‘20-21 salary matches what he’s making this year.
    “His (Lechtenberg) ‘20-21 contract is costing the district no more than last year,” he said.
    Supt. Randy Klooz, who left CCS after resigning in October, was also approved for the additional in-lieu-of health insurance benefit for 2019-20.
    Both of their spouses, Torri Lechtenberg and Lori Klooz, were employed or were to be employed at CCS at the time the board action on the extra benefit was taken last spring. The wives carried the school’s family insurance, Olsen said.
    The fact their spouses were also employees of the district saved dollars even with the in-lieu-of benefit, Olsen said.
    However, the board president said Wednesday they will not be continuing that practice.
    The principals’ 2020-21 salaries were approved last week after a two-and-a-half hour closed session. All eight board members present voted for the motion.
 

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