Marshalltown Community School District school secretaries have a new contract for the 2012-13 fiscal year with an increase of the salary package of 3.63 percent.
It was approved at Monday's school board meeting and is the same raise the teachers received. This contract will cost the district an increase of $51,837 for next year.
Lisa Koester, director of human resources with the district, said they try to keep the raises the same with both staff groups if it can be arranged each year. The secretaries were the last staff group in the district to have contracts approved for the 2012-13 fiscal year.
Community member Kendall Derby addressed the school board in regard to the recent drownings in Marshalltown. She recommended using Rogers and Woodbury elementary schools as cooling centers for warm days so young kids will not head to the Iowa River.
"It would be so inexpensive," Derby said.
The suggestion was not an agenda item so the board could take no action on it. Superintendent Marvin Wade said the school district is sending staff to a community meeting Wednesday, where leaders will talk about what can be done in the wake of the drownings and he may have suggestions for the board after the meeting.
The next regular meeting of the school board will be at 5 p.m. Aug. 6 at district offices.