In a special session June 26, the Bangor School Board approved a 3.99 percent total package increase (wages and benefits) for non-union staff and for four administrators, elementary Principal Lois Meinking, school psychologist Kathy Carson, high school Principal Don Addington and district Superintendent Roger Foegen.

The board was given two recommendations — either a 4.07 increase or a 3.8 increase but compromised instead with the 3.99 figure. The increase will go to cover insurance, health, dental and retirement accounts as well as wages.

For employees paid by hourly wage, the increase comes to 61 cents per hour. The administrators (with the exception of Foegen) will see an increase in pay of $2,800 (Foegen’s increase is $2,725). Carson’s new salary will be $58,391, Meinking’s raise will be $75,904, Addington’s raise will be to $82,740, and Foegen’s raise will be to $97,935.

In other action, the board decided to spend an additional $3,000 for power vent heaters in the elementary school addition. The original quote for $14,000 was for gravity vent heaters. “We decided to go with the power vents because they are much more efficient and because we would be eligible for a rebate if we do,” Foegen explained.

With a little less than $200,000 left over from last year’s budget, the board voted to use $155,632 of that total to pay off a portion of the unfunded liability with the state retirement fund. Schools were saddled with that cost back in the ’90s, Foegen said.

“At one time we owed $500,000. If we keep paying it off on schedule we would be done in 2026, but we would accrue so many interest charges that it makes much more sense for the district to try and get it done as soon as possible,” Foegen said.

After this payment the district’s liability will be right around $200,000.

The board also voted to spend $10,672 of the leftover money to paint the elementary school cafeteria walls and ceiling, plus a portion of each classroom where the ventilators for the old heating system were sited (the new ventilators cover less wall space).