BOARD OKS RAISES IN KEPPEL DISTRICT.

Byline: Marci Wormser Staff Writer

LITTLEROCK - Keppel Union School District trustees approved a 2 percent raise retroactive to July 2001 and 1 percent bonus in lieu of a salary increase this year for district administrators.

The salary increase, which go to Keppel management and supervisors, was approved Thursday night on the heels of a similar salary settlement for district teachers.

``We had settled with our teachers last month, and this brings administrators up to the same settlement levels,'' said district superintendent Thomas Niekamp.

Salary negotiations with teachers went to impasse after the teachers union refused the district's original offer of a 1.5 percent raise and a $500 bonus for the 2001-02 year, Niekamp said.

The teachers ended up with a 2 percent retroactive pay hike for last year and a 1 percent bonus in lieu of a raise this year.

Teachers union President Linda Kitzmann could not be reached for comment Friday.

Classified staff members, who include nonteaching staffers, settled for a 1.75 percent salary raise and a $47 bonus about two months ago for the 2001-02 academic year, Niekamp said. A decision has not been made regarding the 2002-03 year, he said.

Niekamp said talk of a 3.66 percent reduction in state funding of education by Gov. Gray Davis as well as the looming threat of even further cuts as well as rising benefit costs were responsible for the lack of 2002-03 salary increases.

``We couldn't afford it ... because the cost of (health) benefits went up about 18 percent,'' he said.

The Keppel district will pay out approximately $80,000 for the 1 percent bonuses and $12,000 to $13,000 per employee and their families per year for health coverage, he said. An individual without a family costs the district $6,000 to $7,000 a year in benefits, he said.

The district might need to take money from its 9 percent reserve fund to pay for predicted budget shortfalls, Niekamp said.

In addition, district officials are considering the reduction of equipment and supplies as well as not filling staff vacancies and general funds transfers to categorical funds to make up for budget cuts, he said.