Unit 15 approves settlement agreement with Exelon

Katy O'Grady-Pyne
Posted 10/18/17

Unit 15 approves settlement agreement with Exelon

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Unit 15 approves settlement agreement with Exelon

Posted

CLINTON — The Clinton Community School Board of Education approved a resolution for a settlement agreement with the Exelon Corporation Tuesday night. The district and Exelon have been in legal disputes over tax revenues for several years. 

“This has been long in the making,” said Superintendent Curt Nettles.

The district, as well as all the other taxing bodies in DeWitt County, came to a settlement of a five year agreement that Exelon’s property tax bill will remain consistent. That amount is more than $11 million annually, Nettles said.

“This is fantastic news for us,” he added. “The appeals made by Exelon on property tax assessments will be dropped systematically one at a time as we roll through each year.”

In another matter, Nettles shared information from the Regional Office of Education on instructional aide salaries from around the area. Board member Ron Conner had requested the information during the September board meeting, expressing his concern that the Clinton school district pay for aides was causing good candidates to go elsewhere for employment.

The information showed salary ranges for aide positions between $9 and $21 per hour, based on the 2016-17 school year. Pay for aides in Clinton starts at $11 per hour with the highest aide paid $13.22, Nettles said.

Comparing school districts closest to Clinton, Nettles said the district compares favorably, however, he would like to have education and work assignments taken into consideration in the hourly wage. 

Conner agreed. 

“Aides are too important to be treated like this. I’d like to see us, if we have to, reinvent the wheel to get these good people.”

“Let me suggest we work on this and come up with a suggestion in the spring semester that would go into effect next year,” said Nettles. 

Similarly, the board approved an adjustment to the district’s lead nurse salary position based on education and experience.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a resolution to make the transfer of $300,000 from the district’s working cash fund to the tort fund permanent. 

• Approved the trade of the district’s driver education car as well as the purchase of a new car, not to exceed $20,000, from Anderson Ford. Nettles said all of the automotive dealers in Clinton were invited to submit quotes. 

• Approved the purchase of a delivery truck not to exceed $30,000 to replace the district’s current van.

• Listened to a presentation from CHS science teacher Rodger Baldwin and Mackenzie Reeser about a science program recently presented to fifth grade students. 

Heard school improvement plan presentations for Lincoln and Douglas schools from Beth Wickenhauser and Clinton Elementary School from Sacha Young and Ben Mooney.

Approved the employment of Michelle Constance, district nurse; Alice Grooms, district nurse; Ashley Bennett, instructional aide at Douglas; Jera Shaw, instructional aide at Lincoln; Kelsey Savage, instructional aide at Douglas; and Diane Dempsey, instructional aide at Douglas.