Mid-Prairie Superintendent Gordon Cook and Business Manager Doug Slaubaugh’s fiscal 1999-2000 salary increases were the shortest in district history: less than 24 hours.

The two, who earlier this spring told the board they would forego raises in light of the district’s tight financial situation, were on the list of administrative salary increases approved by the board in a special teleconference Tuesday night.

They shouldn’t have been.

“It was a mistake,” said Board President Tracy Anderson Thursday. “The board had accepted their offer to forego increases. When we voted on the list we just did not notice they were on it.”

Asked about the increases Wednesday, Slaubaugh and Cook indicated it appeared the board wished to include them. Told later that the board did not intend to raise the two salaries, Slaubaugh said it did not bother him, that he had not expected a raise.

Cook, who had left for vacation, was unavailable for comment.

The salary increases for Cook would have been $2,450, when coupled with benefits would have meant a total of $104,515, and for Slaubaugh, $1,030 for a total package of $57,549. Both represented the 3.20 percent given to all other administrators, the transportation director and the athletic director. The food service director received a 3.19 percent increase and the two administrative secretaries, 5.94 percent.

Salary increases for fiscal 1999-2000 are High School Principal Gerry Beeler, $1,575 (with benefits, total $78,461); Middle School Principal Becky Furlong, $1,480 (total, $74,105); Wellman Elementary Principal (and Washington Township) Mark Schneider, $1,395 (total $71,850); Kalona Elementary Principal Bill Marks, $2,010 (total $73,440); Transportation Director Richard Durst, $780 (total, $49,251); Food Service Director Donna Bush, $11.13 per hour from $10.86 for a total of $22,068; Athletic Director Don Showalter, $89 (total, $3,252) and secretaries Judy Goodrich and Cindy Malichky, $12.00 per hour (from $11.135) for a total of $31,492 each.

There was no increase for Maintenance Director Jim Adam, pending the report from the committee reviewing the position.

Cook said that the committee expects to have a report for the board by the end of the summer.

MPESSA

The results from binding arbitration between the board the Mid-Prairie Education Support Staff Association (MPESSA) resulted in a 15 cents per hour across the board increase and increase insurance benefits to full payment for workers (35-40 hours) and a 4.9 percent increase in payments for 35-39 hour workers. MPESSA represents bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, secretaries and teacher associates.

The first is what MPESSA requested and the second is the board’s insurance offer.