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Show Career ladder proposal 'on table5 at district By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON An appeal to pay 400 teachers career ladder funds for the 1986-87 school year is "still on the table" pending final financial condition statements for the Davis School District. The Davis Board of Education agreed the issue should be addressed addres-sed after the financial audit is completed. com-pleted. Board Clerk Roger Glines said that is "usually completed by the end of September." Payment of career ladder monies to teacher "mentors" and "teacher evaluators" under "job enlargement" enlarge-ment" program funds had been stipulated sti-pulated in the 1986-87 career ladder plan previously agreed between Davis Education Assoc. negotiators, nego-tiators, the school board and district dis-trict personnel. "Career ladder money was reduced, re-duced, stipends were reduced," Supt. Richard Kendell reiterated in the latest school board meeting. The issue first was raised earlier this summer. The DEA, teachers' association, argued the funds should now be paid because services were "rendered "ren-dered in good faith with expectation expecta-tion of receiving those funds," Supt. Kendell continued. He cited "difficult budget deci sions" affecting the decision to hold up payment and said "The board is reluctant to make payments pay-ments that would affect the district's dis-trict's fund balance." He further 'said "There is some concern at reducing re-ducing career ladder salaries for 1987-88 (coming year) to pay for 1986-87 career ladder activities." Utah Education Assoc. Attorney Michael McCoy said in a July 21 letter he considered the 1986-87 career ladder payments a "contractual "contrac-tual agreement," Supt. Kendell indicated. in-dicated. A review by the district's Attorney Felshaw King said "it was not contractual and we acted on our legal prerogative." Mr. King added that "some attempt should be made to pay affected teachers but "at least $415,000" should remain in the district's dis-trict's fund balance to satisfy auditor au-ditor and other concerns to operate a $100-million plus agency, Supt. Kendell said. Dee Burningham, former longtime long-time executive secretary for the DEA and now with the UEA, said it was his concern that "good faith" actions in the past not be jeopardized jeopar-dized by action on this issue. "We're (DEA) happy to see y' continue to review this and hOf, the auditors will act quickly," MfT Burningham added. |