STARKVILLE -- Starkville School District officials took measures to keep salaries in check for the coming school year and approved some changes in bond issue construction across the district.

In a move that approved the 2009-2010 salary scales, the board also voted unanimously to freeze the local supplements and non-certified salary scales for the upcoming year.

"If you're certified, you'll still get your step up, but not an increased supplement," said Superintendent Judy Couey. "As of this time, no money has been taken away from anyone."

She said the district pays more than $400,000 in supplements, and she proposed the change in light of the tight, mostly unknown budget situation facing the district.

The state Legislature has not yet presented a budget for the state and for education, but Couey said she has been told a funding figure has been decided.

"I understand we did not get the full funding we had hoped for," Couey said.

Couey said administrators are reviewing all pay scales and supplements to ensure they are equitable.

Other business

Other items of personnel business include the hiring of Avence Pittman Jr. as assistant principal at Starkville High, and the transfer of Michael Jefcoat from behavioral specialist at Henderson Intermediate to assistant principal at Armstrong Middle School.

The board also approved two change orders to allow the safe removal of asbestos from areas of Henderson Ward Stewart and Starkville High. This abatement was needed after asbestos was found in some window caulk at the high school and some floor tile at Henderson.

The board also rejected a bid it had previously accepted to have the Rosa Stewart building reroofed. The company that originally won the bid had an expired document the state requires. The board voted unanimously to reject the original bid and accept the $44,000 higher bid from Graham Roofing for the job.

The decision was made to accept the next lowest bid rather than rebid the project in an attempt to get the job done before school resumes in August. If Graham Roofing cannot complete the job by Aug. 7 as originally proposed, the board has the option to rebid the job.

The board went into closed session to discuss a personnel matter before adjourning until 6 p.m. June 30. The board hopes to have a budget to approve that night.

Before the meeting began, the board and a number of members of the community met in a reception with new SSD principals Joseph Stone and Keith Fennell. These men have been named the next principals of Armstrong Middle School and Starkville High School, respectively.