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A librarian position will be shared between Creston Community School District and Murray Community School District after the CCSD Board of Directors unanimously approved a sharing agreement between the two districts during Monday’s regular meeting.
According to the contract for the agreement, Murray Community School District will pay CCSD 20 percent of Tiffany Cooper’s salary and benefits costs for the shared position, while also reimbursing CCSD 20 percent of all state monies received for the sharing position.
Both districts will equally share the reimbursable transportation costs for travel between the districts.
“Murray’s been a good partner in the past to share with,” CCSD Superintendent Steve McDermott said via video conference Monday while he recovers from surgery. “They had a need in this area. First and foremost, it’s to meet a requirement they have over there. But, also, to add some support they don’t have otherwise.”
McDermott said with sharing agreements in the past, the smaller district often held the contract since it was less expensive for both districts by doing that.
But since Cooper has been with CCSD for 23 years, he felt it was important for CCSD to hold the contract.
“In this case, this is a long-term person here with us who has experience here, so it wouldn’t be fair to ask her to change contracts, and I wouldn’t,” McDermott said. “So, we’re offering a piece of what our contract is and then Murray will pay us accordingly.”
Before the board voted on the agreement, Board Member Sharon Snodgrass asked what the sharing agreement would do to the schedule at Creston Community Elementary School.
Creston Community Elementary School Principal Scott Driskell said the schedule will become tighter, but everything should work.
“As Tiffany has visited with them, we thought it would surround ordering books, organizing the library, some things like that,” Driskell said. “We feel like they’re in good shape there. They did mention they were looking for a little more technology and ... (Murray Community School District Superintendent) Alan Miller told me in a voicemail he’s OK with whatever type of agreement. We’re going to be fine.”
Employee handbook
The district’s attorney’s recommended the board members review the employee handbook since it is a changing document throughout the year.
During a review of the employee handbook, Board Member Tom Eagan noticed it did not have anything about harassment between employees in it.
“So that will be something we look at and add the guidelines and regulations on that,” CCSD Business Manager Billie Jo Greene said. “We don’t have a board policy on that in the employee handbook for employees against employees.”
Board President Dr. Brad James noted how other businesses usually have a section in their handbooks about employee harassment. He also asked if the district would be liable should something happen before a section is added to the handbook.
“I don’t think so. You deal with it and if you don’t deal with it effectively, then you have an issue,” said Board Member Galen Zumbach. “But, it would be nice to have some guidance in there and maybe some other schools have some sort of policy.”
In other CCSD news:
• The board unanimously approved car wash and ice cream social fundraisers for the cheerleading team and butterbraid, cotton candy and cupcake fundraisers for Future Business Leaders of America.
• The board unanimously approved all proposed out-of-state trips.