T. Falls school board approves salary increases

On Monday night’s meeting, the Thompson Falls School Board discussed several pressing matters including a previously discussed review for a new salary schedule for their administration; as well as questions regarding city sewer easements. The meeting began with a public comment asking the administration to approve a mask mandate for the schools, regardless of the number of active cases in the county. The argument was given that the “off and on again” mask mandate has made the teachers' jobs more difficult, as well as the safety for everyone in the building. The concerns and request for a mask mandate represents a large number of the staff and faculty members.

Superintendent Bud Scully noted the high number of cases Sanders County has recently seen, and plans to look further into analyzed data sent from Nick Lawyer, a physician assistant at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains. The school board will make an assessment in a future meeting.

Administrators states that with the exception of COVID-19, the general consensus is that the students are happy and grateful to be back in school. The students benefit from being in schools five days a week, and are getting back into the rhythm of the school year. “I see great things happening every time I’m there, and we’ve got a great staff here,” Scully said.

The first order of business on the agenda was to discuss the salary for the elementary school principal, business manager and plant supervisor. All board members were in agreement, and the school board approved the motion to increase wages for all three positions. “Teachers are hard to find, custodians are hard to find, and we have to do the best we can for them,” the superintendent said.

The board then discussed the sewer easements and the city water and sewer rates. Many questions and concerns were raised amongst the board as to the financial logistics for the easement. Board members wanted to know what the financial payments will look like, and if each lot of land will be charged separately or as a whole, as the board felt they have received conflicting answers. The board agreed they will need set answers before any easement is signed.

Future special meetings will include a discussion about a required mask mandate, as well as the answers the superintendent received about the sewer easement concerns.