Summer school teachers get raises

The Cedar Grove-Belgium School District is increasing summer school pay for teachers in an effort to grow the program.

The School Board last month approved paying $30 an hour, up from $23, to try to attract more staff members to lead classes.

“We’re hoping that attracts teachers and it allows us to boost the program,” Business Manager Tera Rogers said of the pay increase.

The district is using part of its nearly $500,000 in ESSER funds it received through the American Rescue Plan Act designed to close achievement gaps between student groups created by the pandemic.

The higher pay will cost the district about $61,000, which includes additional stipends and $3,000 for supplies, “which we didn’t even get near last year,” Rogers said.

Last year, the district paid $52,000 for summer school.

Those totals do not include busing, which cost $7,000 last summer.

The ESSER funds must be used within three years.

Board member Laura Schieffer questioned what happens to summer school pay when that money is gone. She doesn’t want to see the teachers’ pay decreased.

“I just worry about that,” she said.

“That is a conversation that (Supt.) Chad (Brakke) and I had. Yeah, what happens when ESSER is gone?” Rogers said.

The hope is $30 per hour will be a competitive rate in three years, Brakke said, adding he will be honest with staff members about the pay and what could happen when the money runs out.

Board member Kurt Kraus said the extra cost is worth it.

“Even if the ESSER funds weren’t there,  it’s risk reward — we’re risking $7,000. It isn’t like it’s a $100,000 decision,” he said.

Schieffer said she doesn’t oppose the plan but is looking at it from all angles.

Summer school pay had been $18 per hour “forever,” longtime board member Aileen Dahlke said. It was later bumped to $23 per hour.

Free lunches for summer school are expected to last through June 30, the end of the fiscal school year, Rogers said. After that, she isn’t sure what will happen.

The district holds two summer school sessions, one in June and one in August to avoid sparse attendance during the week of July 4.

The district has made expanding summer school a priority to help students who need help in math and reading and to offer enrichment classes such as art and working with LEGOs. Swimming lessons are also popular.

Students who need academic help are referred to summer school and most parents are responsive, Elementary School and Summer School Principal Jeff Kondrakiewicz said.

Mixing in fun with academic subjects helps.

“By having more fun classes you have more opportunities for students to schedule academic classes,” he said

Kondrakiewicz said he wants to expand summer school to include older children.

“The way to grow it really is to grow older kid participation, and maybe that looks different than the way we have it. Maybe that looks different than the three-class day for elementary kids,” he said.

The board approved the pay increase, 6-1, with Schieffer dissenting.

The district will use at least 20% of its ESSER funds on summer school and after-school programs, Brakke said. The rest will be spread across the English Language Learner and low-income families, students with special needs, early childhood families, mental health support and professional development.