Salaries for Beatrice Public Schools administrators will go up by more than 4 percent for the coming school year.

The Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education Monday evening approved a 4.08 percent increase in administrator salaries for the 2008-09 school year and in a separate motion approved a 4.08 percent increase in the superintendent’s salary.

Those increases cover salary only, and do not include insurance and other benefits.

Both votes were 6-1, with board members Dave Niedfeldt, Dan Dell, Mitch Deines, Bonnie Riekenberg, Don Harmon and Steve Winter voting in favor. Board members Terry Cossel and Lisa Goossen were absent from the meeting.

Voting against the 4.08 percent increase was board member Jim Spangler, who offered amendments to both motions to propose a 2.5 percent increase in salaries instead.

Spangler’s amendment for administrator salaries died for lack of a second to his motion, while the amendment for the superintendent’s salary was defeated 6-1.

“Do I think we have good administrators, yes. Is the district well run, yes,” Spangler said. “Do I consider a 2.5 percent increase a slap in the face to our administrators, no.”

He said considering the tough financial times many people in the district are living through, his proposal was reasonable.

“Many people are living paycheck to paycheck right now,” Spangler said.

He said his proposal would still give the district’s administrators a $2,000 increase or more.

“This is a chance for this Beatrice leadership team to show some leadership and protect the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars,” Spangler said.

In an interview with the Daily Sun following the meeting, Board President Dave Niedfeldt said that the salary increases are meant to keep the district competitive with other districts. He said the Beatrice district uses an array of schools of similar size with similar positions and shoots to be at the mid point or a little above among those districts.

“It’s important that we stay competitive. We want to continue to have the best leadership possible in the district,” he said. “We’re proud of the administrative team we have, they do a wonderful job.”

Along with approving administrator salaries, the board approved a 4.97 percent raise for the classified staff. Classified staff includes all hourly staff, such as secretaries and custodians.

Administrator salaries for 2008-2009, followed by the 2007-2008 salary, are:

* Superintendent Dale Kruse, $133,457, up from $128,225.

* Director of Business Affairs Chris Nelson, $104,613, up from $100,390.

* High School Principal Jason Sutter, $98,317, up from $94,386.

* Middle School Principal Randy Schlueter, $93,616, up from $89,903.

* Paddock Lane and Stoddard Elementary Principal Betty Replogle, $88,460, up from $84,985.

* Lincoln and Cedar Elementary Principal Theresa Smith, $83,293, up from $80,057.

* High School Assistant Principal John Jarosh, $80,889, up from $77,764.

* Beatrice Middle School Assistant Principal David Kraus, $75,240, up from $72,376.

* Director of Curriculum/Assessment Summer Stephens, $86,922, up from $83,518.

* High School Associate Principal/Activities Director Neal Randel, $75,893, up from $73,000.

The salary of $89,500 for new Director of Student Programs Jami Jo Thompson was approved at a previous board meeting. Thompson fills the position vacated by the district’s previous director of student programs, Joy Dunnigan, whose salary for the 2007-08 school year was $90,420.

The raises approved Monday follow a 4.49 percent increase for the administrators, a 4.49 percent increase for the superintendent and a 4.66 percent increase for classified staff last year.