Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board approves pay increases, positions

Prior Lake American

The Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board voted on new board positions during an organizational meeting on Monday, but the faces are the same.

Board Chair Richard Wolf, Board Vice-Chair Lee Shimek and Board Treasurer Stacey Ruelle are all returning to their positions. There were no other nominations, nor changes to the board.

The board also approved a pay increase 4-2, which Wolf said hasn't happened since 2014. The previous compensation was $5,000 per year, with an addition $20 per meeting for committee assignments. The board voted to raise that amount to $6,000 per year, with the $20 staying the same.

"It seems like it'll keep us in line with similar districts," Ruelle said.

Those other districts include Burnsville, which pays members $6,000, Lakeville, which pays members $6,700, Bloomington, which pays members $7,200, Shakopee, which pays members $5,000 and Rosemount-Apple Valley, which pays members $6,200.

Board member Mary Frantz dissented.

"I've never considered the amount a board member is compensated as a reason to be on the board," Frantz said. "I'm fine with it staying the same."

The board also increased the extra compensation the board chair gets to $500 from $300 and the extra compensation the board-vice chair and treasurer gets from $200 to $300.

With elections coming up, Wolf said he wants to make the position competitive to potential candidates.

"My goal here is to make sure we make this position attractive, especially to young parents who have students in the district," Wolf said.

The compensation doesn't equal the time put into working for the board, Shimek said.

"Whatever we get doesn't compare to the amount of time we put in," Shimek said.

In other action at the organizational meeting, the board:

• Approved the consent agenda, which included naming the official school depositories, newspapers, financial consultants, legal counsel and auditing firm. The board also appointed Business Services Executive Director Julie Cink as assistant board clerk.

• Approved board committee assignments.