Neoga Board Approves Return to School Plan; Approves Teacher Contract

The Neoga Board of Education Thursday voted to update the district's re-opening plan in the wake of Governor Pritzker's mask mandate.

The Board agreed to "strongly recommend" the wearing of masks, but also acknowledged that the State may approach the District to take stronger steps and when the State requires the District to take stronger steps, they will comply.

The Neoga board also approved a three-year contract with the Neoga Teachers Association. The contract includes a 3.35% per year increase in pay. 

Neoga Superintendent Bill Fritcher said the increases get the District to the minimum salary required by the State. About 50 people are members of the Association.

In a separate move, the Neoga board agreed to provide $500 bonuses for every fulltime district employee. The Board said the move was a one-time way to thank employees for their efforts during the pandemic. 

Also Thursday, the Neoga board approved an intergovernmental agreement for cooperative boys and girls cross country with the Cumberland school district, approved a contract with Christy Elder for school psychologist services, approved a tentative fiscal year budget with final action to be taken at the September board meeting, and discussed roof issues at Neoga Elementary School but took no action on the issues.

In personnel moves, Neoga board members accepted resignations from Frank Jenkins and Jennifer West as paraprofessionals, and from Kristy Thornhill as a Kindergarten teacher as of the end of the coming school year, and hired Amy Kinnaman as a paraprofessional and Deacon Faulkner as junior/senior high school yearbook sponsor.