A first-of-its-kind contract for early education teachers and staff was adopted this week by the Suttons Bay Board of Education.

The board voted unanimously Monday night, following a 30-minute closed door session, to adopt a 1-year pact with the Early Childhood Education Association under the Michigan Education Association for workers in the school day care center, which has 90 to 95 children enrolled year-round.

Superintendent Mike Murray explained that when the child care facility opened a year ago, the salaries of staff members varied greatly. In an effort to establish a more uniform salary schedule for the group that didn’t fit into the support staff contract, Murray initiated talks with the staff.

Contract details call for an annual evaluation of staff and establishes a pay scale for teacher assistants of $9.60 to $11.93, based on years of experience. Salaries for lead teachers range from $9.85 to $12.15, according to the contract.

The child care program is entirely self-sustaining. Costs are covered by fees paid by the parents of the children in attendance.

Child care is offered on a daily basis with hours of operation based on traditional work schedules, but is not tied to the school calendar or hours of operation.

In related business, board members adopted a contract with Colleen Makin, who was selected to fill the recently-created fundraising coordinator position. The 1-year agreement is for 20 hours of work each week with the understanding that the number of hours per week will fluctuate with the task performed.

“We’ve got ourselves a wonderful young lady in this position,” trustee Tom Nixon said.

Makin will be paid $7.40 per hour, payable after attaining commitments of $50,000 in pledges. Thereafter, the next payments shall be at the $100,000 and then $150,000 benchmarks.

Salary and benefits will be paid out of the fundraiser account.

“Colleen was just as hard working before we made a commitment to the position and … before we knew it was going to be her,” board President Sue Corbin said. “She’s a very good match for the district.”
In other business during the 2-hour meeting, board members:

• Increased by a quarter the cost of breakfast and lunch at all levels. The cost for student breakfasts will be $1.50, and $1.75 for adults. Lunch costs will be $2 for pre-kindergarten through fourth grade students, $2.25 for fifth through 12th grade students, and $3 for adults. Milk will cost 40 cents.

• Approved an agreement with St. Francis, Kalkaska and Elk Rapids for a cooperative hockey team that would also include Mancelona Public Schools.

• Set the charge of adult tickets for varsity athletic events at $5 apiece. The price was set in an effort to bring ticket prices in line for all schools in the Northwest Conference, Murray said.