White County School Board Meeting 5/29/25

001You did too. That's the way I look at it. So, Emily, are you back? So, uh how how close are we? Miss Barnes, are y'all watching us already? Test test. Just make sure everybody's good. Computer's logged in. ready to go. All right. Um so at this time I'd like to call the um May 29th meeting of White County Board of Education to order. Uh if you would please rise and Mr. John Smith lead us in the pledge to the flag of the United States of America to the stand. nation liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Smith. Um again, like appreciate everyone being here tonight. Um those may be joining us on the line, uh thank you for your interest in the White County School System. Um so tonight's uh meeting is limited in

002scope compared to uh our regular meetings. the agenda that we're going to consider for approval. We'll be uh taking up the items for our fiscal year 2026 general purpose school fund budget as well as our fiscal year 2026 school nutrition budget. Um also includes consideration of an AIA contract for classroom additions at Doy Elementary. So, uh, regarding the budgets, uh, that we're asked to approve, these will be reviewed during our were reviewed during our work se session that we held on Tuesday, May 27th, and each board member has been given the opportunity to review and follow up with our director regarding questions pertaining to the proposed budget. So, tonight's uh tonight board action uh is uh step one of a two-part process. uh any budget we approve tonight will go to the county commission for

003final approval and then thus have to be uh submitted to the to the state. So uh uh we're we're step one of that two-part process. So Tennessee code annotated and board policy 1400 states that every meeting of the board is open to the public except where law allows a close session. The agenda for the meetings are posted on the district's website at white www.whose white coastschools.net at least three days prior to each meeting. State statute requires that each meeting agenda include an item reserve for public comment. A signup sheet is made available prior to the beginning of regular meetings. Individuals signing up prior to the start of the meeting to speak will be recognized in the order listed on the signup sheet at the point in the agenda designated for public comment. Board meetings are

004streamed with help of Warrior Media for live or recorded viewing. Links are provided on the district's website. Attending andor speaking during tonight's meeting implies consent for comments and appearances to be used. So, uh before we uh consider approving tonight's agenda, is there any board member who would have a conflict of interest on the items on the agenda proposed? Mr. Chairman, as I always do each and every month, uh, and each and every meeting we're in, nothing on the agenda, I feel um, is a conflict of interest, but just, uh, just a quick note that my wife is an employee of this district and, uh, the thoughts and the the comments I've made here tonight are mine and mine alone. Thank you, Mr. McDonald. Mr. chairman. Also, my spouse is an employee of the district and

005so again, my thoughts are my own and are always for the best of the district. Thank you, Miss Officer. Mr. Chairman, much like my my two colleagues, my wife is an employee at the White County High School and my comments and my my opinions will reflect me and not her. Thank you, Mr. Smith. So, uh, let the meetings reflect that Mr. McDonald, Miss Officer, and Mr. Smith all state that they have spouses that work with the district, but nothing on the agenda being proposed tonight would constitute a conflict for them. So, uh, at this, uh, this time I'll entertain a motion for approval of agenda for tonight's meeting. Motion by Miss Fard. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Mr. Smith. Any discussion? Okay, hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I.

006I. Opposed. Motion passes. It brings us to the next item on our agenda and that is approval of the fiscal year 2026 general purpose school budget. So um just want to been thinking through this and and uh there's uh some things on there that we need to uh uh just make sure we're we're understanding when we go through this process. uh to give any board member the opportunity to uh uh uh put something on the table to to deliberate and uh for board to take action on. So um thinking through this um what the what how I intended to do this is that uh we'll have a motion for approval of the of the budget and uh motion and a second. Upon that we'll enter into discussion. So during the discussion period um that's when

007I would entertain any motions for budget to be amended. And so what I would uh what I would hope as we go through that that uh uh in uh amend motions to amend can come up uh uh one one motion to amend and we address that followed by another motion to amend and we address that then at the end of the discussion um we will make sure that we uh we review what the motion to approve the budget is and list the amendments if any are brought up. So uh so basically we'll work through those amendments, come back to the original motion and pass that based on the uh on the amendments and I asked Miss Fowler to uh kind of help me track those as we go through that just in case uh uh

008there's uh uh there we get a few discussion and we make sure we stay on track on what we're uh what we're discussing. And then uh then also if there are any amendments then we need to make sure that we get the correct numbers uh to Miss Ally and uh and then uh go forward with that. So um first of all does anybody have any questions about how we how we'll go through that process? Sound reasonable. Okay. Um then the next thing before uh we do any any entertainment of motions. Um so there was uh several things have have uh need to bring to your attention prior to our meeting uh last Tuesday. Um and going back uh back through there are a few changes that uh that uh that are noted. you've been provided

009copy of that uh in your in your packet for tonight's meeting. Um in uh in a big picture uh uh summary uh we go back and review of the uh general purpose uh school fund. Um the revenues uh they were uh there was some deductions and then some increases uh that based on review by Mr. Markham uh that resulted in a loss of $40,520 from the uh revenue number that we saw on Tuesday night. So keep that in mind. Uh while there were some uh some revenues that uh uh that ultimately were were reduced uh and balancing that off with uh an increase in the u uh local options sales tax, the net of that was minus4 $40,520 to the revenue that you saw on the uh on the proposed budget on Tuesday night. So

010I guess that would be considered the bad news. Uh the good news is that uh in reviewing the expenditures um there was uh there was a an an error uh a topographical error that uh that was pic that was noted in u uh fund uh 73 uh 71300. Um and basically that was that deducted $514,765 from an expenditure line. So that was one uh correction that is uh that was that has been made. Also in uh uh there was uh software category. Uh there was some uh recalculation done on actual needs and so that deducted $27,000 from that line item. And then uh a posting error on uh on 73400 uh that uh that particular line item has been reduced by $60,000. So all total based on the budget that you saw on Tuesday night,

011our expenditures were reduced by 61,765, giving a uh new total budget expenditures of 41,722,656. So uh that still leaves us in a in a budget deficit um compared to what we saw on Tuesday night. Uh but that deficit has been reduced by approximately $600,000. So uh that is the that is the changes that were made uh since our meeting on Tuesday. Uh and I'll give our director opportunity if he wants to speak to any of that uh those changes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh just like to thank Miss Ally and Mr. Markhamm for their work. uh they you know worked through this very uh diligently, worked very hard on this and uh were able to find some uh some numbers and some uh posting errors and some recalculations that helped us. I appreciate Mr. Markham.

012Uh we just received a different estimate on property taxes than what's maybe going to actually shake out. And so he was uh uh diligent enough to go back and adjust our local option sales tax to help compensate for that. And so got back to the close to the original uh revenue number um from the local taxes and then as you said we're able to find some um good savings in uh in through some uh some correcting some errors in our expenditures. So gets us back to a very favorable position very close to what we were last year and a very uh commendable job by both them and appreciate their their help on that. All right. Thank you Mr. D. Um, so, uh, that being said, any other questions about what the new numbers are that

013you're seeing tonight? Okay. Um, okay. If not, then I would entertain a motion for approval of the fiscal year 2026 general purpose school budget. Mr. Chair, for uh, sake of getting into deliberations, I will make a motion uh, on the budget to approve Mr. McDonald have a second by Mr. Smith. All right. Now we enter into discussion. So I have a discussion the salaries for the teachers. Um I briefly spoke with Mr. D about this. We have to put the $1625 in there. you know last year, this year and next year for the teachers but this amount also includes for all certifi certified positions. I'd like to know how many positions that is over our teachers that we have to catch up with. Did that make sense? So the proposed budget for 7116 So we

014have to give the teachers $1625 raise. Am I not? That's correct. Right. So to my understanding, we have put that amount in there also for all certified positions in that category. In that category. So I would like to know how many teachers are in that position and how many over the teachers are in that. Does that make sense? Okay. And then that's the teachers, right? Because at one spot we showed 224 teachers and then on another paper we showed 220. Okay. So we added it for other certified positions. So how many positions did we add that for over the 224? All of the uh uh certified people their salary schedule was changed to reflect the $1625. So that is throughout the budget. Everyone that's certified that has been reflected in the salaries. So So right

015here the 14 million and 1116 that's just the teachers only. Yes. Right there. Yes. Or 224. That is classroom. Yes. That's 224. Okay. And just uh for clarity, 224, if I understand, we're holding one position open. That's correct. Okay. So, yeah, I did see that. Okay. Yeah, just just for clarity, there's there's one position in that number that has not been filled. So, Miss Fart just for for clarity for I guess for myself and and all the board you just wanting to confirm that uh code 16 uh 116 that is teachers salaries and that includes the salary scale adjusted by $1625. Is that correct? Yes. But that means so down here for the special education program that's already added in for the teachers. Yes, ma'am. But then that would be for our vocational education program

016teachers. Correct. Then when we get to the supervisor director, that's $1625 is added in for them also. Correct. Yes, ma'am. For for what? for the CTE director. Not for Well, I'm I'm just going down the thing now. Not for the director of schools. I think the Oh, yeah. Sorry. For the Yes, it was vocational education. So, I think Miss Fowler, if I could, the way to look at this is all of these people that you're naming are going to fall under our pay scale for certified employees. And so, we apply that 1625 across the pay scales. So, it addresses every one of those positions. Um, you know, several years ago, we talked about doing some differentiated pay and looking at, you know, do we do we pay our tested subject teachers more than we do

017uh non-ested subjects. Um, we talked about there's always talk about, you know, special ed teachers and what they do versus some other teachers. Um, and that faced a lot of push back from our from our teachers and from our our constituency. So, um, you know, we've had to we've had the mindset in our district over the years that we win and lose as a team. And so we've applied the the raises across the board that way laterally and uh that seemed to have served us well. So the plan in that 1625 is to go for all certified positions which would cover these all these that you have. I I don't want to cut you off just but but it's being applied to the salary scales to which all these people you're talking about fall under.

018I guess just one thing to add to that. Um, when this is approved, then we would be able to go on to the HR website uh under the certified salary scale to see and it breaks it down as far as principles, assistant principles by size of school and teachers by years of You're correct. You can go on there right now and we've not updated those, but you can add 1625 to every one of those lines in the certified scale and see what it'll go to next year. Um, and again, just want to say that not the director of schools is not in that list, but everybody else does have a scale there which their their job title would fall under. Question those is this on Yes. Um, principles that are certified teachers, are they also

019part of that 1625 as well? Yes, there's a salary scale for assistant principles and principles. There's some coordinators that coordinate some programs like coordinate school health that have their own scale. Um, every certified person that has a license is falls on one of those scales and and the 1625 would be added to their scale. Okay, other discussion. So, Mr. Smith, work it. Okay, good. Um, one thing I want to talk about is is the bonus that you're you're fine. Um, when it when it has to do with what the bill applied So, the the bill applied that does sound a lot better. The the bill applied to a certain group of teachers and the $2,000 bonus goes to them. If you think about the educational experience of our students, without a doubt, teachers play a

020primary role in that. But all the staff across the school district have an impact and have a a positive reflection on all of our students. And it it disappoints me in a way that the bill did not address all the staff that that impact our students in a positive manner. I I think the board should consider some level of bonus for those teachers, excuse me, those staff members that were excluded from um Education Freedom Act from that that resolution we passed maybe two meetings ago just because of the impact that they have on the students uh throughout their educational time. And if if you'd like me to propose something as far as dollar amount, Mr. Chairman, I'm happy to do that. Um, well, it uh it can only be addressed as an amendment to this

021budget with a motion and a second. So, motion and a second would have to be specific to a dollar amount that you would you would propose um with uh with that. So, um just just as uh yeah, for for all all our board members that if you're if you're proposing something for discussion, continue the discussion. But if you're if you're saying you like to see the budget amended, then I would have to have a second a motion and a second. Mr. Chairman, if I could briefly first, I want to say that on the record that my first reaction to this uh legislation was that again, we win and lose as a team. So, I wanted to find a way that every staff and and faculty member in our district got some sort of bonus. Um

022I'm also charged with saving money and trying to find a way to have a budget in a very tight budget year and a tight economy. And so, uh, when we first started talking about this, my heart was to and still is that everybody would receive some sort of bonus. My mind in the budget process was we're only getting enough money for this many teachers, so that's really where the money needs to go. My heart's still there, but in in the previous statement, but what is in your budget tonight is enough money to to do uh just those 291 teachers as defined by the state. There is also the additional money for the other 30 teachers, uh, principles and school psychologists. That's that other 30. That money is there. Um, my recommendation was to do fiscally

023was to do the money that was offered uh by the state, which would be that 291. So, I just want to make it clear. Um, there is money in there for those additional 30. There is not money in there right now for staff. I am certainly on board with whatever the school board decides to do. Um, but I just wanted to make you understand that as it is proposed tonight, it would be my recommendation to give the money based on the 291, not the other 30. I'm not included in any of that. Um, but only because that's I'm trying to be fiscally responsible as the board asked me to do. Now, with that being said, I support any decision that the board makes, but I just wanted to be clear of where my heart and

024where my head is in this process. So, thank you for that time. So, so my question is and and we just heard a moment ago there's 224 positions that are certified, but now we're hearing 291. I heard that the other night. I want to make sure where are the other what 65 or so number? Where does that number come from? Um the 291 that includes librarians, music, art, counselors, preK through 12th grade, correct? Guidance and federal federal teachers. So that isn't that that's not included in the 224 that we heard previously. Turn your turn your mic turn your mic on. Sorry. 224 is what is being paid out of that one line item. Okay. All right. And then so 224 then you're going to add all your counselors, your music, your art, all of those

025folks, guidance, everybody except for your educational aids, your secretaries, and your principles. Anybody else in that in that nature? Is that correct? That's correct. Okay. I I am I I'm I'm with you, Mr. D. my my heart is to give it to everybody, but I've spoke with a couple other districts around us. Uh, one is doing everybody in their district. They're they're matching it dollar for dollar. Everybody that's not on their list of like our 291, they're giving them everything. Another district is only given the money that was given to us by the given to them by the state. So, um there's a big breakup around us on what people are doing. Um a lot of people didn't even want to take the money, but they saw free money and they decided that they were

026going to give it to the ones that the state said. And I'm with Mr. Smith. I I really hate that our school psychologists, our aids, those folks more I wish the state would have looked at that a little closer because the the the aids, the educational aids that are in those rooms are in front of those kids and they're in front of those those students and they have as much of an impact as the classroom teacher does. Some points, maybe more because they're so hands-on with those students. Um, I would like to see us do, and I'm going to let Mr. Smith continue on that, but I would like to see us do something for those those the rest of the ones that are not included. So, I would like to say that um I

027agree everybody plays a part. um these extra I think it's 30 licensed admin and the school psychologists I think some of them are here at the BOE um I get they're not with their teachers all the time the principles and vice principles I know they're at the school but they're sorry with their students they're not in the classroom neither and I get the bus drivers and cafeteria and everybody but these 93 aids they are there they are there going on a field trip with these students and see how crazy it is out there. These aids are very important and I'm I'm going to bat for them. I've had quite a few phone calls. I'm I'm not saying that these other people don't deserve a bonus. Maybe later, but I I feel like the aids definitely

028deserve something right now. I mean, I've done some figures and um I don't know. And I'm I'm not for giving the extra people the 1600 and what was it? $25. I think I'm I think we could look at saving some money there, not giving them a raise. They got one last year, you know, and I I get that. Um we've looked at Putnham County and trying to get up toward their pay scale, but we don't have the revenue coming in that Putnham County has. I think that that hurts. And I mean, I'm for everybody. I wish everybody could get it and I'm going to take some slack on it, but I'm saying what I'm saying and I'm going to bat for these aids. Could I want to take I'm not dismissing any of y'all's uh

029points. Um, I want to go back though just to make sure we're clear on the 1625 across the board. Um, and I may run our director to help help me uh recall this. um when state went to the new TISA funding uh there was also if I'm not mistaken minimum standard for um starting salary and so we had a period of time for us to move that salary scale up and that 1625 is part of the process of getting our salary scale bill moved up to get us in compliance with that minimum starting salary. After the minimum starting salary has been uh reached, then the pay scale will continue as as it is in effect now. It's just going to be reflective of $1625 per year more than what it is now. So the 1625

030is money that we have to incorporate into our pay scale to get us state compliant on on teachers pay. Is that is that close? It is. Um there's nothing mandated that we do that this year, but you'll just have to double up next year in order to get them there. So, we split the difference and tried to make it. We do have to get starting teacher pay to 50,000 next year. We don't have to address it to everybody else, but those are raises that, you know, we had projected what we've customarily done is cross the board, as I've said, and um you get into your you know, we've already heard when, you know, new teachers are getting a $1,600 raise and then you've been here 20 years and you don't get anything because you're not

031part of that category. So, we've done that across the board. I would push back. I I'm I'm I fight for the AIDS, too. There's a like I said, there's a there's a part of me and but we're not just talking about the AIDS. You know, we're talking about our cafeteria workers and the role that they serve. They were here till 5:00 last night serving serving meals to folks and uh you know, our bus drivers and bus attendants and there's there's all kinds of people. Everybody, you know, I don't we all wear different hats. We're all doing the same job. We're loving kids and working hard for them each day. Um but we all serve important roles. And I agree that the aids are very important, but there's a lot of other staff that do important

032jobs, too. And there's also a lot of studies uh that I I'll go to buy it for principles because there's a lot of studies that show the most important factor in a school successful school is their leadership and and the principal in that school. And we're blessed to have some really good principles leading our schools and our districts. We don't change principles very often and that's that's not said everywhere. So, you know, I would argue that that's a really important person because they're they're helping hiring those those teachers and those aids that they're you know that that they're putting in there. So um anyway, so to answer your question, we really all we h really need to we don't have to do anything with 1625. We need in my my opinion, we need to do

033that this year so that we can do the same thing again next year and get to 50,000 minimum. It's just been our custom to put that across the board and that's offered a raise to all of our teachers. If we don't do that, then we're probably going to have to go back and rethink what we're doing as far as our budget because that throws our budget numbers off. That's what we budgeted for was 1625 across the board for our certified staff and 2% for um for our classified. So beyond that, if the board wants to entertain a bonus for our support staff, then that's that's something different. But it's my recommendation we do 1620 across the board for certified 2% for staff and then discuss an additional bonus if the board wants to add to

034uh anything outside what the state's provided. Okay. So, there any questions? I just want to make sure everybody's clear on that because we are talking about two different two different numbers talking about teacher adjust teacher raise which is across the board to our salary scale. That's for certified teachers and then classified staff getting 2% across the board raise based on the salary scale that's in place for them. So draw the line there between those two items because those go together. The bonuses that's a different topic. So, I'm going to ask that we if if there's any discussion we want to have regarding the 1625 and the 2% the 1625 adjustment to our salary scale for certified and 2% for support staff. Let's have that discussion and then move forward from that because otherwise we're going

035to get a little confused on what what we're talking about because they are two separate separate items. All right. I do have just one other thing and and it's going to be along the lines of the TISA funding that we get. So last year we got roughly $31,240,666 in TISA funding. the state is making us give this money or give give the you know get the pay scale to $50,000 but yet they've cut our TISA funding $971,000 $971 $132,000 this year but they still expect us to meet their standards. Why are they and and I know this is nothing that nobody in this room can answer, but why are they not held to the same standard that we are to be able to fund us in the matter that they want to make us fund

036our district? Well, it's really a legislative, you know, solution, but the answer what the state will say is that they have provided the funds for the necessary raises that they've required. However, our expenditures continue to go up because if we do raises across the board or we do bonuses for our staff, if our utilities go up or the cost of buses go everything goes up, all of our expenditure prices go up, but our revenues continue to go down. They're going to make the argument that there's enough money based on their figures to pay those particular raises, which they're correct. But what they're not accounting for and what they won't acknowledge is that our the ceiling of our expenditures continues to rise while we continue to receive overall less funds. I think the thing about that

037is is we have been very good with our money. We we've we've had a very good plan for the last what 25 years I would I would say uh to put us in this position to be able to take care of our our people and our and our teachers and our staff. Um I I'm afraid that the state's not looking out for those smaller districts that are around us. uh going to be hard for a c a county like Van Beern County, which is our neighbor, to get there and to be um competitive to keep teachers. Um I I just I think someone needs to hold the state legislator's feet to the fire. Um I know our our expenditures go up. um our revenues sometimes go down, but I think there needs to be some

038some folks that are are held more accountable instead of just throwing money at something that doesn't mean anything in a bill that's not going to help us. And let's invest in our students and our teachers and our faculties and our our folks that are making a difference in these kids' lives. that is going to be um the next leaders of this state. So that's just I'm I'm sorry I'm on my soap box. Sorry. We will we will allow a little soapbox time during this meeting. Okay. Oh, thank you. So I just want to try to clarify and make sure I've got this right and everybody watching understands. So in order to get where we need to be for the state level for new teachers, we need to do 1625 raise for each teacher certified teacher

039this year and next year. But it's also been put in the budget for $1625 raise for the ones that are not teachers for the I missed my paper. I've moved it for the certified. Am I right? Yes. For for all the certified licensed people. Okay. But this is that's principles. Yes. Vice principles, people at the board of education, supervisors. Okay. That are not the teachers where and and I see what you're saying, but I just want to make sure the people watching understand what's being said. You You're saying that you want it to go to the classroom teachers and not principles, curriculum coaches, assistant principles. That's that's how you want to put it. That's okay. But I'm just saying I've counted 14. So I don't know. There may be more because you said curriculum coaches

040and stuff. So I've probably got more. So because I'm just looking at this 3.6 negative 3.6 million negative. And I know we're coming out to the good this year. Correct. And we was what? 3.2 million last year. Am I right? 3.2 million in the hole last year when we passed it. But we're coming out 1 point we think we're going to come out 1.2 million to the good now this year maybe we're running consistent with where we were last year which was about $2 million to the good last year. So okay so I mean I think that's a a big difference and people in the public are asking how can we have a 3.6 six million in the whole and then come out two million to the good. Well, we've I think we've explained that

041many times that we overestimate our expenditures and we underestimate our revenues and that allows us to to fall in that window. Um I think having a 3.6 compared to 3.2 two overage this year is pretty commendable on our part seeing all the up all the increases we've talked about all the the raises we've we've been able to give everything we've been able to do and we incent in essence have raised at $400,000 from last year I think that's pretty incredible on my part um not on my part on our part as a as a team putting that budget together so uh it's a lot it's an incredible amount of money and we're not taking that lightly but I think we that our team's done a good job of getting it to only 400 000 with

042all the expenditures we're talking about, even with, you know, adding in a lot of these raises for everybody, which I think are welld deserved. And I'm not saying they're not welld deserved. And I think everybody has done a great job. But this goes back to where we're saying, you know, we can't give bonuses to somebody else. And I know I got to take that away. Sorry, I'm not getting on that soap box yet. Thank you, Miss Fowler. Um, ju I could just say something to that. That's that's what I'm saying. I we can give bonuses if the board wants to take money, you know, more money out of the bank to give bonuses. We can do that, but I don't feel like you can tell me to be fiscally responsible and we're too high at

0433.6 over and then at the same time saying I'm not don't have enough money to give to to AIDS. So I I mean I feel like I'm you're talking out of both sides of your mouth. If you if you want me to give money to AIDS, we can do that. The board can take 200 $300,000 out of the bank and we can do it. Um but but I can't be held to that. You know, I'm not being fiscally responsible, but at the same time, we we need to give more money in in bonus bonuses. So, if I could for just just a second. Um so, uh Mr. D, you did what as a board we would expect you to do. um you put together a proposed budget and and it comes to us and you've

044had to make discretionary decisions on that and then board members. It's this is our opportunity that where we get to have a say in what money will be spent and if we if we elect to um add to what has been proposed um that will be our choice that won't be the director's choice because we were not presented a budget with that in place. So if we if we want to make um adjustments to that then we need to we need to be we will be the ones making that. It will it will not be it will not be our our director fiscal or uh agent that will be doing that. It'll be be our our our decision which is okay because we have that prerogative. Um, I think and Miss Fowler, I'm I see

045uh I think I see kind of your position on that, but I'm looking at overall increases and it says teachers raises and it says 1625 across the board salary scale adjustment. Um, when I see that, I think of the teachers that are in the classroom. Um I think for clarity going forward um that probably should be licensed or C is it would be certified certified employees and then support staff should be referred to as classified employees because otherwise we think of teachers as being those in classrooms with kids. But that's not the case here. The case is we're saying raises for our certified employees across the board. That's going to be reflected in the White County Board of Education salary scale. uh that would be th that scale would be adjusted um on all levels

046$162025 and then classified employees classified staff would get a 2% across the board raise to their salary scale. So that just to me that brings clarity to what what I'm looking at. The stone 1625 is kind of black and white. This 2% uh that's just according to what position they're holding is. So what would the average 2% raise be to the people that's not holding the lure? They would look at their salary scale and be and multiply that by 2% and then they could see what the adjustment would be for next year. They so so we don't know what the average might be. No, they're they're all different. I mean there's people been here 5 years, 10 years, 15 years. So it just be based they can look at their salary scale and add 2%

047to that or multiply that by 2% and then they can see what the adjustment would be for next year. Well, um I'm kind of on the same scale that you know uh we're in a uh hard year with all this talking about the property tax increase and everything. And uh just like she was saying uh you know when you're looking at hard numbers and it looks like we're going to be close to you know 3 and 1 half 4 million in the hole and then when we get around to the next year we was actually two uh two to the good you know that's six that's a big window. I mean, if the window was tighter, you know, you could actually like if this had been this year and we have uh two to the

048good, we would have had the money to pay the support staff. Uh but when we was looking at it last year and we was looking at a negative four, we was thinking, "Oh, we can't afford to pay them." But if we knew we was going to be two to the good next year, we could afford to give them maybe a $500 bonus or something. But, you know, with that big window, we don't know where we're going to fall is what I I think with the point we was get that she was, you know, trying to to say, you know, if at this point when we're looking at the negative for, it's like it's hard to think about giving somebody a raise considering everybody knows the property taxes is going up and it's everybody's strapped and

049everybody's trying to cut pennies because the commissioner saying we're only getting so many pennies and everything. But if we knew we was going to come up with that surplus next year, it would be easier at this point to give a raise. But, uh, there's also, you know, this is a time that, you know, if everybody felt like people needed the money and needed more money for, like you say, the the taxes and they needed more money for this, I mean, we could pull the building on to Dole off to maybe the next year and let people have a raise. I mean, that would save enough money to probably put the raises in to the scale, but you know, that's just something to throw around. Miss Stone, I agree with you. Um, I mean, I the

050we have that window because traditionally we just don't know. Like I said, we I found out today that we lost another $60,000 based on TISA estimates and that's not even the last one. We'll get another one after this budget is approved as we'll get our final. So, we just don't know. So, traditionally we have budgeted in that margin and that's that's worked well for us. That's why we were able to even entertain the Doyle project because over the years we've been able to put money back where most districts will have to go and borrow money against the county to do that sort of thing. We've been fortunate enough to be able to do projects like that. Um, so I don't disagree. Um, you know, the I'm if the board wants to do something different, I'm

051I'm fine with offering that bonus. I mean, if if the board wants to entertain that, I I certainly think they deserve it. And I don't think anybody here is arguing that none of our employees deser don't deserve a a bonus. Um but it's just a matter of how close do we, you know, want to get. You know, I I proposed a presented a budget that I thought the board was asking me to do as far as being fiscally conservative and trying to keep it close in a tight economy. I think we've done that. Um you know, I certainly want to do more than a 2% raise. I'd like to give our teachers more than $1,600, but I'm trying to be as conservative as I can and still fall within that window. So, I appreciate your

052comments. I agree. Uh we definitely need to be conservative here in uh you know, White County because um our county is falling into a crisis it seems like. And I I appreciate you being conservative. Uh because I think the more conservative the better because uh I think the county uh is looking into having to cut other things that the county, you know, would like to have ambulances and, you know, fire trucks and all that stuff, but they want to educate their kids, too. So, we're all in this together. Um so, Miss uh Miss Stone, appreciate those those comments. So, um, sitting here listening to the discussion going back and forth and it's healthy. I appreciate you guys participating in in this. This is good. Um, Miss Stone, you bring up an interesting point that so

053I just want to lay something out for board just for us to consider what we options we have. Um, if the the board wanted to do something, um, if if the board wanted to, uh, do something for those that may get left out of this uh, certified and non-ert uh, and classified uh, staff. throughout the year. Um, that could be brought up throughout the year because I understand what you're saying. If I know if I knew now what 2025 would look like, if I known that back in 2024, I might have had a different take. But we don't know. However, keep in mind that we do see financials every month throughout the year and we have the resources to get projections from our director uh Mr. Markham. Um so where those things could be addressed

054throughout the year, it could be a budget amendment. Now, we would still have to get that approved by the the county. Is that correct, Mr. Markham? So, it would still have to go through the regular channels for for approval. But um if for example we thought we were going to be running a surplus and there was a group that did not meet here but wanted to recognize them that could be done in any time anytime throughout the year. Uh that uh is is my understanding unless I get somebody in the back saying no you can't. But it it could that could be done. So as from a board standpoint, I just want us to know I mean we have discretion throughout the year based on looking at numbers. So just keep that in mind in

055your decision making. Okay. Um are we still we're still in the the actual point of the raises across the board? Correct. Is that was that where we're in discussion now? Yes, sir. We're okay. We we have Yes. So, I I just done some quick math here. We were We were talking about and I just used $20,000 as a salary as a good easy number to do math on. If you do 20,000 times 2%, that's $400 that they would get that their salary would go up. Two and a half is uh 500 and 3% is 600. So, I would like to see some of our support staff get a little more than 2%. Um, don't know what anybody else thinks here on the on the board, but um those folks put in as many hours as

056as the ones that are getting the 1625. Um would like for them to feel a little bit wanted and recognized uh with something. But I know 2% is is nice, but $400 over 10 months or 11 months or whatever it is, it doesn't break out to be very much. Um, but I still want them to feel like that we're thinking of their best interest or we're trying to help them out in a time that's that's tough budget-wise. So, I just like to hear what everybody else thought on changing the 2% to something maybe just a little bit higher. So, Mr. McDonald. Um, and if if it's board's pleasure, uh, you know, you can, uh, we can continue to discuss it. If, uh, if you're going to take action on it, if you're going to, uh,

057uh, want to take action on, you would have to express that in a form of emotion. Okay. just so maybe let's strike what I just said and let's um let's continue not have to amend the the budget because the 2%'s already um figured in into that raise the 2%'s already in our budget. So I think that would be something that we need to address in this next step that we're going to as far as the bonus. So, I'm you can take my comments for what they were, but I'm not going to put them into a motion uh for deliberation. Okay. Um I'm just going over the the the basic U increases as as listed on our on our budget summary. Um and if no one is going to make a motion on our certified and

058classified uh salary scale adjustments across the board. Then I'm going to move on to the next item and that is the uh Freedom of Education Act, the $2,000 bonus to our licensed teachers. Um, again, we passed a resolution that we would participate and the state will give us $2,000 for uh licensed teachers that meet certain criteria of student engagement. meeting. Uh there was there was uh it was stated in the in the legislation of how who what who would qualify for that $2,000. So, we passed a resolution that we would participate and that $2,000 is in there. And the total of qualified certified licensed teachers that met that that criteria was 291. And we should not confuse ourselves thinking that's just a classroom teacher. That would be a certified teacher that met the statute requirements

059of student engagement. Am I correct, Mr. D? Miss Alley. Yes, that's correct. As defined by the state of Tennessee, they sent us a list. We confirmed that list. Uh and our number was 291. Okay. So, there's there's not a debate on the 291 because 291 was the number that we have that we have to fund. We're we're fund it's we're just passing through the money's coming from the state and the state says we said based on their u their definition of what qualifies for this bonus we have 291 licensed teachers that qualify for that. So there's really no debate on that number. Okay. because statute says that's what we will spend and uh or our resolution says that's what what we'll we'll spend and that's already included in the in the budget. The $2,000 local

060bonus is for 30 licensed administrators and school psychologist. So, that is a $60,000 local bonus that we are that is in our budget currently that will be paid in in uh in fiscal year 2026. That money will stay in our budget unless it is motioned out. motion and and and approved out. So, right now the budget and the numbers that we see um that $60,000 is included. So, the only way that that money uh is not paid is that if we motion that out. So, um did I explain that correctly, Mr. D, Miss Ally? Okay. So, I just want to make sure that we're clear and understanding that that money's already been it's been recommended that we approve that bonus. So, I'm sorry. I just want to clarify. I we do have that money in

061there, but my recommendation based on this budget was to only to pay the 291. Uh, we did put money in there because Miss Ali and I had conversations about including the other 30 that were in there and I certainly want and think our our administrators and those other 30 deserve it. Again, I'm not part of that. Um, but I also don't want to add any local I'm not recommending any local bonuses if we're not adding that a bonus to our support staff as well. So, the only money that I'm recommending that we would there is $60,000 in there, but again, we lost $60,000 in revenue today from TISA funding, but so that would be a wash. So, to add anything would be another addition. What I'm recommending as far as bonuses go in this budget

062is to only award the money to those that were defined by the state, which is the 291. I want to give more, but that would be a board decision. uh we did have that money in there, but again the 291's what I'm recommending because I don't want to as much as I want to support our principles and those that are in that 30, I don't want to give a bonus to just those 30 if we're not going to acknowledge everyone else that's not on that list. Okay, board members. So, um we can discuss that, but let's I just want to make sure we're we're clear so we know what we're we're voting on. I apologize for the redundancy, but Mr. 60 $60,000 is in our budget for those 30 licensed administrators and so the school

063psychologist. It is it was it was in there, but our director is saying that he would recommend not paying that bonus if we don't pay other support staff. And so I think that is the decision as a board we have we have to make. So Mr. Mr. Chair, I I'm looking at at our page three of our revenues um line item 46590 I believe is what it is. So it's $734,000 and 734 $240. um that how did that is that the number that the state has sent us for those 291 teachers is because the bonus from my understanding it's $23 and something dollars per person but they're going to make it to where it's $2,000 even on their check as a bonus. Is that correct Mr. Markham? Go ahead, Miss Allie. The $2,000 will go

064through payroll just like normal with the benefits that the employees uh always pay will be deducted from that. The state is sending the employer portion of the benefits, retirement, social security, and Medicare, uh along with that $2,000. So, it um I think the percentage is like 13.42%. Um I believe that's what I figured on. Um the state says close to 23, but it's according to what our each county's uh uh TCS revenue uh would generate. our our teachers, the ones that are included in this on their check will see $2,000 or will it be a little more, a little less depend upon what their it will have a gross pay of $2,000, but their net check will not be $2,000. See, that's not what I understood that the state said that they were going to

065send to where but so the state sent to Miss Ali's Miss Ali is exactly correct. So, every time that we run a payroll check, even for you guys, the county pays 6.2% to Social Security, you pay 6.2% to Social Security. We pay 1.45% to Medicare, you pay 1.45% to Medicare. And then on teachers, we also pay a percentage uh for um TCRS retirement and the teachers pay 5% as well. So, what the state has has done is given the counties enough money to cover the county expenses. The employees still have an expense. They still have to pay social security, Medicare, retirement, and then whatever federal income tax bracket they're in, too. There's no way for the state to send an exact dollar amount to for everybody to get a net check of $2,000. I don't

066think our our teachers understood it that way. I think whenever they were watching the um the proceedings from the from the legislature, I I don't think they took it the ones, at least the ones I've talked to, didn't take it that way. I think it'd probably be fair to say that the legislators don't understand that either. I I would I would agree with you 100%. I would love for some of our legislators to sit on this board or any board and deal with what they think that they've put out that's going to work, right? I I think it uh we we we should do a public service announcement on this saying that anybody that's getting pay a bonus. They should not expect it to be a net bonus. They should expect it to be a

067gross bonus. And you will have to pay your income tax, your social security, and Medicare. that will be deducted on only on a very special occasion would you ever see a net check of a bonus. Okay. Um I'm sorry. I got I digress. I shouldn't have done that. Um All right. So, regarding the bonus, there's the state reimbursement. That is there's nothing that we would we do on that that bonus. We've already committed to doing that. So, um, the next is the $2,000 local local bonus for 30 licensed administrators and 30 and and one uh psychologist, excuse me. Total of 30 licensed administrator and school psychologist. Um, in the budget there's $60,000 for those 30 individuals. And the recommendation from the director is that we not pay that bonus if we're not going to pay

068the remaining sport support staff that also participates to the to the education of our students. Um, this probably won't make me popular, but I'm going to make a motion that we remove the $60,000 for the local licensed administrator and school administrators and school school psychologist budget uh bonus from our budget. So, I have a motion. Do I have a second motion? Do I have a second? Second. Okay. Motion and a second. Uh, now discussion. So, I I still new at this. So if I Robert Well, the the amendment I would make is to leave uh the budget as presented um today without removing the 60,000 but also include and I would ask you numbers to make sure I'm correct. also add in a $500 bonus for those staff that were not included in the resolution

069we passed 60 that or excuse me the 30 that Mr. chairman uh mentioned $500 bonus for those staff would be the $132,920. Cafeteria staff that this bonus comes from our general purpose funds and not from the cafeteria funds would be $27,689 for a total of $160,69. And that's a $500 bonus for those staff that are not reflected through the Freedom of Education Act or No, that because the others are already in our our budget. That was probably clear as mud. All right. Um Okay. Uh, so we have a motion to remove the bonus. Motion in a second. Um, Mr. Smith, I I heard you say that you make a motion to propose something else. That would be an amendment to the motion that's on the floor. Okay. So, I'm just trying to write this down.

070Um, I would need you to be clear in what your what your motion is. Um, so that way we can uh we can Yeah, I think I need need you to be more clear on exactly what your your motion is. Okay. Oh, I would leave those. Okay. So, um I'm going to if you don't mind, I stop you right there. Sure. Um then you would express that in the vote meaning you would the motion is to remove it. You would vote no in order for that to stay in. Okay. Okay. Does everybody agree with what I information I said? So we're going to have to vote on we should vote on that first. Okay. So, have a motion and a on the floor and a second to remove the $60,000 bonus for licensed administrators and

071school psychologist. Um, I have a motion and a second and any discussion about removing that reason why it would come out or why it would stay. Any discussion on that? Yeah, but I mean there'd be a point of order here I think at some point because what he's motioning and what you've motioned in second is just a cancellation. I think you're on he don't have a second on his motion yet amendment and Mr. McDonald, I understand understand what you're saying, but you in your motion you said you would not. Well, what you're what you're expressing there is you're vote on on on my on you're you're expressing you're trying to trying to undo what undo what I just did. You can't you can't do that. You can redact your motion. You can redact your motion.

072Let's I'll redact my motion. So, Mr. Smith's Mr. Smith's amendment has been redacted. Again, we're going to get back to motion on on the table, and that is whether or not we remove the $60,000 bonus. So, have a motion in a second. Anybody any discussion on on that? Just just for my clarity, your motion is to remove the 30 folks, which would be your principles, assistant principles, BOE certified staff, um, Miss Barnes, Miss Haley, and the three school psychologists from that from that bonus. Though they those were the ones that were not included in the 291. That is correct. Okay. Okay. Any other questions? Okay, motion in a second. Um, going to do a roll call vote on this because I just want to make sure we get every everybody we get all votes properly

073counted. Um, I'll start to my left. Mr. Smith. Oh, Miss Douglas. Mr. McDonald. Yes. You're voting to remove it. Yes. Okay. Miss Fower. Yes. Miss Stone. Miss Officer. No. Okay. So, I've got three I got I got three nos and one yes. Uh my vote is yes, we remove it. So, I'm affirm. So, the $60,000 will be removed. Okay. All right. Any other All right. So, now we are Let's get us back to where we're at. We have a motion for budget approval of the general purpose school fund for 2026 that has been amended to remove the $60,000 for the bonus of licensed administrator and school psychologist. So we are still in the discussion phase. So do we have any other discussion? Mr. Chairman, I would like to uh make an amendment motion. Uh at

074this time, I would like to see us um add back into that our school psychologist, our principles and assistant principles. And if I'm mass correct, that would be $42,000 for those folks that are in front of students uh on a daily basis. Okay. Um, I have a motion. I have a motion. So, I have a motion to add Mr. McDonald. Could you repeat that? Um, you said principles. I would like to add our principles, assistant principles, and our school psychologist back into um that bonus that was not covered under the uh Freedom of Education Act. All right. Have a motion to and according to the paper we have in front of us, that's going to be $42,000. All right. So, no, it leaves it's 32 plus. Nope, sorry. Um, no, it's less be 39,000, I

075believe. 38 or 9,000. Anyway, three three school psychologists, eight principles, eight assistant principles. That's my motion to add back. Did you say a dollar amount with that? I I did, but I don't know that it's correct. Um 16 and 16's 32 plus my math's terrible. So add another six to that right here. This is eight. That's eight. No, no, I'm not counting them. Yeah, I'm leaving I'm leaving out the BC certified staff. And I hate to do it, Miss Barnes, but I'm leaving you out and Miss Haley. So, eight eight principles, eight assistant principles, that's $16,000 a piece. That's $32,000. So, three school psychologist, that's $6,000. So, that'll be what? $38,000. It's $38,000. So, okay. I'm going to I'm not trying to make your motion. I'm just trying to make sure it's we clarify it.

076Mr. McDonald, I have a motion on the for Mr. McDonald to um budget $38,000 for $2,000 a piece for eight principles, eight assistant principles, and three school psychologist. Have a motion to have a second. have a motion. Do I have a second? Okay, motion fails for lack of a second. All right, we are still on budget approval for general purpose school fund for 2026 that removes the $2,000 bonus for licensed administrators of school school psychologists totaling $60,000. That is that motion has been approved. So any other discussion on anything pertaining to those two items? Just have a question. We have 93 aids, correct? I want to verify what the paper says. That's what everybody sees, right? Okay. Take your time. We're not any rush. This is important. I don't know. I have a question then.

077Okay. It's officer. So I'm new also to this. So when he redacted was he took it back. So we know there's going to be another step. It was recommended that the 60,000 be removed if we couldn't have bonuses for other people. So the way it stands right now, we just removed it. At what point will be able to say, "Hey, I like that 60,000." If we add more to it, that would be right now. So So that Yeah. to Thank you, Miss Officer. That would be right now. And so I want to give you chance to speak to that. Mr. D has something he wants to say. So I'm g recognize him. Well, I just want to say that if I knew it was the board's prerogative that we wanted to do bonuses this way,

078I would have we would have put together a budget as such. You know, I was instructed to try and be fiscally responsible and just spend the money that, you know, that we have and and so I've done that. And you know, and I'm and I'm, as I said many times, I probably would have would have come forth with a budget that said pay the two $2,000 to every certified person and and a $500 bonus to all staff to try and be fiscally responsible, but at the same time acknowledge everybody on our team. Um, I I would have not come to this board and said, I want to leave these four people out and single this group of people out because they're more important than this group. That's really bad for our team and uh I

079would have never proposed a budget like that. It's it's very it's been that that we've done some things like that over the years and they're not received well. Um but again I I you know I work for you. I'll do whatever you want to do. But had I known that I wouldn't have put I would have put money I would have done that had a different budget if if I thought that was the board's prerogative that we wanted to to do that. So, um I just I just want that to be said that um I would have provided a different budget had I been instructed that that was what we wanted to do. We had conversations about the money coming in. I felt like I had opportunity for the board to say this is where

080we'd like you to go. Um I didn't get any of that feedback. And so I'm not saying you have to prove exactly what's given, but I would have prevent provided you with a different document had I known that that's where the board wanted to go. Um, again, I I probably would have recommended trying to be conservative, give the 2,000 to the people. Um, and then if you wanted to say everybody not on that list a $500 bonus, I would have done something like that to try and acknowledge but still be fiscally responsible. But, um, you know, I apologize if I haven't given you the budget that you wanted, but I was going on the information that I had. So, well, Mr. D, I appreciate that. Um, and appreciate your patience as we as we work

081work through this. Um, know you we didn't give you any guidance for um how to address what we knew was coming and that was the state reimbursement. So, Mr. Chairman, if I if I could interject real quick. Um, Mr. D, you and I had email conversation. I'm going to say two weeks ago, but you know, time is kind of kind of a a void right now where I asked for the information that Mr. McDonald has and you shared all that with the other board members. Um, and again, it goes back to me being new on the board and trying not to, you know, confer with other board members outside of an open setting. You know, had I had I asked the other board members, what do you think outside of this setting, that would be

082breaking some level of Mr. President, some law, I'm sure, uh, that I couldn't do that. So, you know, maybe maybe fooy on me, lesson learned to, you know, going forward, I'll I'll be more direct in in my approach u with these kinds of matters. But I I believe we're to a point that, you know, nothing is set in stone other than the removal of those 30 positions. There's nothing that says we can't look at some level of bonus which would include those 30 positions and and move forward. Is that correct, Mr. Chairman? That is correct, Mr. Smith. Um, it this is our time to discuss it. We we have had meetings prior to this and that hasn't been brought up and it wasn't wasn't asked to to put that on on the agenda. Um, so

083uh so yeah, I mean this is our this is this is our our time to to address that and I you know again appreciate what was brought Mr. Mr. D, miss uh Miss Alley, Mr. Markham putting together um and just bear with us as we as we work through this. So again, board members, if if you want to address anything, we'll we'll hold this part of the discussion open a little bit longer. But uh um well, I I'll go back to my clear as mud um amendment uh that I tried earlier and and restate. I won't have actual numbers this time because of the previous motion that was approved, but all those staff outside of the Freedom for Information, that's the wrong one, educational freedom act, all those outside of that, I'm proposing that they

084get a $500 bonus that includes cafeteria staff and the general purpose funds would cover all those amounts. Essentially, the cafeteria staff budget would not cover the $500 bonus for those staff. That is my motion. All right. So, just make sure that we're state this correctly. I have a motion on the floor to bonus certified staff classified staff $500. Is that And I think he probably meant to say everyone not covered by That's exactly what I When we're talking When we're talking everybody, are we talking cafeteria? Yes. BOE staff, everybody in this office, cafeteria, secretaries, bus drivers, everybody from top to bottom. If I'm if I'm hearing you correctly, everyone that is on that sheet that that you provided to us except the Well, everyone that's on that sheet that's not in the 291. Yes, sir.

085That's I'm going to say that's correct. Yes. So, for just for my clarity, I'm thinking around 120. For my for my clarity, that means the 30 that we just took out would qualify for that. Every full-time every full-time employee not covered under the 291 $500 $500 bonus. Yes, sir. Um All right. I have a motion by Mr. Smith. $500 bonus for full-time staff the district. I have a motion to have a second. Mr. Chairman, yes. Could we get a a a figure of what that would be before we make that motion? Uh well, he's already made the motion, so I'm just looking for a second. If we get into discussion, we can ask. All right. So, have a motion and a second by M. Mr. McDonald. any uh All right, now we're in discussion. So,

086uh Miss Stone, I recognize you. What would that figure be? uh if we included everyone other than the ones that was getting the $2,000, if you look at the 30 staff that were adding into that and excuse me, add it to the 160, which the 160 I mentioned earlier includes not only the the bonus, but also the the additional pieces that that are part of it too, the the taxes, the retirement, those things. If you do raw figures, you're probably looking at at least 200,000. Would that be fair? looking at those 30 staff around in that amountish. How many support staff? I I don't Yeah, I mean it it would probably be a little more but but I think that's a a fair round figure. 157. I may have missed something, Miss Stone. We're trying

087to confirm that number. Okay. Okay. I'm not. They are. He's doing his head and he's blowing my Yeah. Miss uh Miss Stone 65 without Okay, fair enough. All right, Miss Stone for uh $170,000. or 500 $500 bonus for full-time staff not covered under the Freedom of Education Act. All right. So, I have a motion second. We're in discussion. Do we have any other discussion? All right, then we're going to mo vote on Mr. Smith's amendment. Um, you do the second Mr. McDonald. Okay, Mr. McDonald. Um, all right. So, we'll start to my left. Miss Officer, Miss Stone, Miss Fowler. No, Mr. McDonald. Yes, Miss Douglas. Yes, Mr. Smith. Yes. Okay. Motion passes. All right. Um All right. So now Now, we're going to continue our discussion on approving the motion for approving the uh budget

088approval for the general purpose school fund. uh removing the $2,000 bonus to local licensed administrators, school psychologists, but adding $500 bonus for full-time staff. Uh that is that is our that is our uh that is where we are on our on our original motion to approve the budget. I think we have covered those areas. Are there any other budget items that we need to uh we need to consider? So, out of respect and transparency, uh then I'm going to move to our budget item line item for our director's salary. Um our number was uh our number of 120,000 was put into uh uh put into the budget uh that's presented to you. And so with unless there is a uh unless there's a a motion and approval to adjust that number, then it will stay

089at 120,000. Um, but if we're going to adjust that number, then this is the time that we would address that particular line item. So, I would need a motion in a second if we're going to have discussion on that particular line item. Mr. Chair, I I would like to uh no disrespect to Mr. Drerger and and I hope you don't take it this way. um fantastic job he's doing here for our district, but I can't I don't think I can vote for a 15 to 18% raise for him when we're only doing 2% across the board. Uh essentially going to be 4% at some point with the bonus that we've put in. Um, I just don't think that number is a good number. Uh, I would like to amend our budget to make that a

090$110,000 um for his salary this year with hopes that next year we can do more. All right. I have a motion on the floor uh to amend the director's salary to $110,000 from 120. I have a motion to have a second. Second. Second, Miss Fowler. Uh, now discussion. Like I said, I I I don't want Mr. D to think that it's a slide in his his way anyway, but it would just be hard for us to, and I know like he said many times, we we win as a team, we lose as a team. Um, I think he's done a fantastic job for this district. we're miles ahead of where we've been uh in years past and um I want to I want to put money in his pocket, but I don't want to do

091it at expense of everybody else. Um I know we are well under the salary range and I appreciate the information you sent to us and all the things that you've done. Um, I I appreciate all that information and and I I want you to continue to do that that job, but um I I just I think this is a good spot for us to be. Uh and I hope that you understand how I feel. Okay. Have a have a motion second. We're in discussion regarding director salary. I agree with Mr. McDonald, Mr. D. I I think every department has done great trying to cut corners. I know this is very difficult and sometimes you feel like we hound you to death, but thank you. And still in discussion. All right. So, um I'll share my

092thoughts on that. Um when you take the name out and you look at the position and you look at market comp for the position, um White County is underpaying. Um it's our prerogative. We pay our director uh the board pays our director. Um we set the salary scale and um it's our choice and it's our choice for to make the offer and it's his choice to to to stay um and the director's choice to stay. Keep in mind there are exit clauses in these contracts. So, if a employee decides that grass is greener on the other side, then it's it's a two-way uh it's it's uh it's bilateral. Uh both parties can can ex exit the contract at any time with proper notice. Um so when you look at performance where our district is um

093just came out today goals and objectives that we've set as a district as far as our ranking in in uh in our district. Um, we're scoring in the top 5% uh or top 50% in uh in subjects like math and science and reading across all grade levels. And we're achieving high results and it's and you cannot you cannot discount the role that a director plays in that. So I understand uh I understand that uh I think it's a think it's approximately 13% raise is uh is more than what most people get on an annual basis but keep in mind if the market adjusts and we don't adjust with it then it will come a shock to some board at some time when they're accustomed to paying certain level and the market is dictating a higher

094level. So just keep that in mind. um in uh or excuse me that's my position on this why I would say that uh a number of 120,000 is still reasonable in market conditions especially for our and and reasonable for our our district meaning 14 counties that the state uh has us associated in. So that's my my comments, but have a motion on the floor and a second to adjust the director's salary from 120,000 to 110,000. Mr. Chairman, any other discussion? Yeah. Thank you. The the ultimate goal is to get to 120. Is that this year? Is that the ultimate goal to get there within two years, three years based on the analysis that I know you did? Uh, no. It was it was this year. Okay. Um yeah. Yeah. the the number 120 again um

095based on 2023 2024 numbers districts our size um we were b at that point in time we we were below average for for schools our size in our district if my math is correct and added 2% to that number and rounded it off at 120. So going to to 115 is a little over 10% if I do that. The motion is to go to 110. Oh, so yeah 110. But we're having discussion, right? Yes, sir. So if if I amended the motion and and suggested 115, that's doable at this time. Correct. Yes, that's correct. Okay. So, I'm I'm not doing I'm basically saying if I were to do that, that's a little over 10% increase if my math holds up. Uh I think that's that's I think that's correct. I think if my math was

096correct that 110 is is a 4% raise right at right right around a 4% raise. If the goal is to get to 120 this year, but maybe the all the board doesn't feel like that leap considering everything else is appropriate. a 10% raise 115ish is a still a a really a sizable increase and I think very reflective of the work that's being done knowing that we will have this same discussion next year that might get us to even a higher number than 120 again depending on the market and other districts around us. Okay. So, uh, Mr. Smith, then you would need to state that in the form of a motion and it would need a second to uh consider moving that 110 number to 115. So, are you making that motion? So, moved. Okay. Mr.

097Smith makes motion to move the 110 number uh proposed by Mr. McDonald to 115. Uh, do I have a second? Second. Second by Miss Officer. Any discussion on moving the number from 110 to 115? on this motion. Uh, everybody gets a 2% or 2 and a half% raise and so Mr. McDonald's motion was a 4% and this one is a 10%. So is that 2% added on already? No, no, no, no. That was this is just on the director's salary is what we're what we're talking on right now. um two two%. So, no. Um so, math teachers in the house. All right. So bear with me. I'm gonna I'm gonna pull up the exact number. Okay. Um if Could I speak for just a second? Maybe. No, go ahead. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So,

098um my wife gets mad because I never advocate for myself. I've never given myself a out of a scale of four, I've never given myself a four on any of my evaluations. Um, and I started too low in this position, but I took it. I signed the contract. So, it is what it is. You know, every year the board has discussed, I mean, I've been doing this for nine years, and every year that this board has discussed, you know, that needs to be higher, but we just kind of kick it down the road. I think in uh a few years ago, I didn't get a raise at all. On average, I've gotten a 2% raise every year that I've done this. Um, I've given you the statistics. We're we're very low for this district, but

099I stay here because I love it and um I'm proud to be here. Um I don't know how long I'll do it at this level, but I can tell you you'll be hard to pay somebody what you're paying me when I leave. Um it's just it's just not worth that amount. I mean, we've we made and and none of no nobody in this district makes what they're worth. I mean, we the education just doesn't pay uh what it should. Um, but uh there's a cost to doing this job and um I p my family's paid dearly for it and uh and u I just uh I had I didn't ask for 120 uh that was put in the budget um by by request from a board member. Um I'm I'm scheduled for a 2% raise

100this year which would be I think it's 1079 somewhere in that that vicinity. Um, but I do know that I've done a good job. Um, you may not like me personally and you won't agree with every decision I made, but we got data back today and out of 29 tested subjects, we were in the top five of the upper Cumberland in 28 of them. And we were number one in the upper Cumberland in eight about 30%. So, um, you know, I stand behind what we've done and what what the people uh supporting me have done, the work that we've done over the past nine years. Um, but we're this this salary for the board's information is way behind. There's 56 directors of schools that have less students than we do that make more than I

101do. Um, we're 64th in size and I'm about 117th in pay. So, you know, that's something for the board to consider. You know, if the goal is to get to 2020 in a couple years, I don't know that I'll still be here for that because it's it's it's a costly job. Not a lot of friends in this position. Um, but and I'm not asking you to feel sorry for me. That's the job I signed on for. But it is low and um, you know, and I understand the optics. I've never asked for a raise outside of I think a couple years ago we discussed it and it got denied. Um, because I support the people that I stand on their shoulders every day. And so I know the optics of what that looks like. Uh,

102when we're talking about 4% raises for our support staff and then you're talking about a 10% or 15% raise for me. But it's been like that for nine years. and uh for nine tough years and uh so that's all I want to say. I I'm going to come in and work hard and uh and do my job and keep loving kids and working hard and pursuing excellence every day because that's what I do. But this position um needs attention for the success of our school system whether I'm here or not. So, thank you. Okay. Um, I I do have one question and and I know you you laid that out there and and I if I didn't see it in our email. Um, if we get to 120 this year, where does that put us

103amongst the Upper Cland uh and the the the schools that we are uh equal size with? Um, well, right now my salary is out of 15 upper Cumberland counties, I'm 11th. Um, that would put us in the ballpark of the top five, but those have changed since these numbers come out. Um, but um, you know, I I I always say the top five in the upper Cumberland in all of our scores because I think size-wise we're similar size, we're similar numbers. Um, and we outperform the larger districts in so many different areas. Um, but nevertheless, that's my goal. And so, um, you know, I would think our salaries are that way, too. That's why we can't match, as Miss Fowler said, we can't match Putnham Countyy's fiscal capacity, but I want to be competitive, and

104I think we can be, and we're I'm competitive with salaries. I'm competitive with our score. So, um, so I think if you were at a 120 number, I think that puts you in the top five, which is respectable. But like I said, there are one, two, three, four, five, six, seven districts smaller than than we are that are that are above my salary right now. So when you say upperland, you're talking about the 14 typical upper Cland counties. Yes. All right. Um, not ending discussion, but I just want to make sure that we understand where we're at. Um, we have a motion to amend the motion made by Mr. McDonald to reduce the budget line item for director salary from 120,000 to 110,000. The motion on the floor right now is for that number to

105be um a be 115,000. So, we need to take care of the 115,000. Have a have a a motion and a second. We're going to we will discuss this until I sense that there's no more discussion to be had. This is on Mr. Smith and Miss Officer's motion. Mr. Chairman or maybe Mr. D at 115. Where does that where do you fall? Where does the position fall, I should say? um in the upper Cumberland based on this last year's numbers um it puts it in the sixth or seventh range. And just for just for information, here's who's paying more than what county in in that district. Um currently currently who's paying more? Smith County number one, believe it or not, Putnham County number two, Warren County number three, Cumberland County number four, Cumberland County at

106118. And I think this these numbers are based on 2024 data. Um, Mon County, uh, district complier size, uh, their number was 118,000. Klay County, a district almost a quarter of our size, paying 113,000. Jackson County, again, a little bit more than a quarter the size of our district. They're pay they were paying 110,000. Dicab County, they are approximately 60% of our of our district at 28 enrollment of 2817. They're paying 109,000. Canon County, a district about half our size, paying 109,000. Ventress County approximately 60% our size. They're paying $108,000. We come in 11th at paying our director $105,700. And that those are upper Cland counties. So, um those are your numbers where where you uh where that falls. If at the 115 at the 115,000 based on these numbers assuming they have not adjusted

107I think it was brought up that Mon County had to go find hire a new director. I'm not sure what that compensation was that would get you up in the that would get you up in the uh around 30 top 30% uh top third of a pay scale in the district. All right, we're still working on our getting on our numbers. Um motion in a second on that. I think uh I think we need to address this this uh Mr. Smith and Miss Officer's uh motion to amend uh Mr. McDonald's 110 number. So, um, any other discussion? I just want to say, and I'm I'm not being negative because I I I think he does a great job, so I'm not, but some of those schools listed have multiple high schools. Even Smith County, they

108may be smaller than us, but they have Gordensville and Smith County. So, I mean, I'm not being negative by no means, but I would actually like to see their school budgets to see how they can how do they um you know, I'm not going to say justify, but um yeah, how they're able to pay it with their cuz some of them, you know, was um pretty good there to be little. Um, but I will say I did figure it out. So at 8.5% of the one uh $100,5 or 105,800 8.5% is one4. No. Yeah. 114793. So we're right in between the eight and a half just to clarify because you I think you asked the So you're the 115 is about 8 and a half%. It's a Yeah, roughly. Yes, in Yep. Yeah, just a

109little over. So, just for clarity, thank you for doing the math. Okay, so for everybody's clarity, 115,000 would put would be an 8% increase, which is actually a 6% increase over our uh obligated contract amount amount. All right. Um, so, uh, if there's no more discussion, we're going to take a, uh, roll call vote to move, uh, uh, to amend the $110,000 proposed by Mr. McDonald to 115,000 um, as proposed by Mr. Smith. Um, so we'll start to U, Mr. Mr. Smith. Yes. Yes. Miss Douglas. Yes. Mr. McDonald. In an unprecedented move, I'm going to because of the passion that I saw from him, I'm going to vote yes for this. Okay. Um, Miss Fowler. Yes. Miss Stone. Yes. Miss Officer? Yes. Okay. Motion passes. Um, so going back motion, the Mr. McDonald's motion now

110has been amended. And now the motion on the floor is to amend the $120,000 budgeted line item for our director's salary to to amend that to $115,000. Um, any more discussion on this amendment? Mr. Markham, at what point in the year um, from the budget from the new budget year, at what point in the year do we know when we're going to be in excess? Is that at in January? Is that in February or March? Do we know when do we know that? You mean like previous year? From previous year from, you know, like last year we were at a 3.2 deficit, but we're coming in at a $2 million surplus. Um, I mean, we can kind of tell as we go, but, you know, to give you an exact number, we'll need to, you

111know, be more toward this period in the in the fiscal year. But I mean by by um July, end of July, 1 of August, we can tell you how we finished out the previous fiscal year. Okay. All right. I I was just trying to think ahead for next year at this time. So I'm just I just Thanks for clarity, Mr. Markham. Uh what I think Mr. McDonald was saying at some point during the year will we figure out if we're still going to be in a negative or when would we might know if we're going to be in a positive. Correct. Yeah. Well, by mid year we'll know, you know, kind of how things are trending and if we can tell if it's going to be significantly below our expectation or or you know, so

112I mean to tell you if we're going to be a little negative or a little positive, you know, we might come in there, but if it's going to be significantly negative, we would definitely know that early on in the year. So, Mr. Markham, is is there a way to know if for this current year at what point the proposed revenues exceeded proposed expenditures? Does that question make sense? So, so it it it does. Um the revenues in county government and in the school system are not consistent throughout the year. Um and so um they never match up exactly. So like in in the midspring we're pretty heavy as far as as revenues as far as revenues against expenditures. But then as we get toward the end of the count or the fiscal year, we start

113uh running end of year payrolls and start having some rather large expenditures, but that's when our revenues dry up too. And so it's kind of it's hard to tell. So, so just for clarity, our fiscal year is July 1 to June 30th. Correct. Correct. So if I could um share a thought comment on this. So the um the budget our what we plan to spend each year is in our budget. That money only changes if we as a board change it and we do that through amendment. So if we typically if we what I've see is that if there is say an unforeseen expense that our administrators are not able to repurpose money from one account that maybe they didn't need to buy that extra panel board. and they take that money and they come

114over here and they put it in another fund. They have the discretion to do that based on our approval, but they that's how at the end of the day, they're not coming back and saying, "Hey, in in um May of of 2024, we passed a budget that was $20 million and now we have over spent. So, we need you to approve pulling a million dollars out of general purpose fund and putting that to cover our our our expense. We are in control of that. Okay. When you look at from a county's perspective, the revenues are somewhat variable in if people pay their taxes and if they pay them on time. But the state money comes in, I mean, it's pretty much locked in. What the state says they're going to send us, they will reimburse

115us that money. So, and that's just for for everybody's understanding, the state pays 80% of our White County's budget. 80% of White County's general purpose educa g uh education budget is paid from the state. We only get approximately 20%, we do have federal monies that come in, but it's a little less than 20% monies that come from the county. Approximately $7 million roughly the what based on my my uh calculation. So from a state standpoint, the revenue is pretty much locked. The only variable that you're going to have is going to be from a local from the local collections. That might be variable, but outside of that, it's the reason we get budget surpluses at the end of the year is because our staff is being frugal and responsible with the funds that we have

116that we've set forth in the budget we've set forth. They have not spent as much money as we have budgeted. So to answer the question, at what point do you know um you pretty much know when it's approved because if this county the the the real variable is the county and the county has by statute they have a uh uh uh a maintenance of effort that they are required to give to their district. So I think what the question is it's not we're going to it's it's the question is okay how is how are our expenses trending that can be a moving target but as far as revenues the revenues pretty much set that that's well put Mr. Chairman, the the ability for us to increase our revenues from the state, does that solely depend

117on enrollment? Pretty much. Yes. Okay. That's called um piece of funding per pupil. And when enrollment drops, then we as a district lose money. Excuse me. Uh, and if more and more people start homeschooling, that does cut into our money. Correction. I'm sorry, Mr. Markham. I misspoke. And Mr. D. Um, at some point if people, as Miss Stone rightly said, decide to homeschool, then we do have some money at risk. Out of our out of our 3,600 enrolles in the uh in the in the county um in our in our district. Um, we have approximately 400 that are that we're responsible for that are under homeschool. Is that correct? Homeschool or homebound? Is that No, homeschool. The number say 400. No, it's close to 900. 900. Okay. I'm sorry. So, times 900 times 76007 $7,000.

118You can do the math. Okay. Um so we need to make our district attractive to people say, "Hey, it's good to be part of White County in the White County school system because we run good schools. You know, we keep the nonsense to to a minimum and we produce good well-educated students that go out in the world and are successful. That's what our staff does. That's what our administrators are doing. That's what we're the the data speaks for itself. We in White County, our school system, we produce and when the rewards and the and the and the uh that we got the acknowledgement, um director and I, we went and told our county commission that. We went and told the the the u uh the city uh uh mayor and alderman. We told him that.

119I mean, make no mistake about it. White County schools produce have a very, very good education system. We produce well educated kids of from all all walks of life and we'll continue to do that. And I appreciate the fact that he says he stands on the shoulders of good staff because he does. and I appreciate it. In fact, he recognizes that. But I'm going to tell you something. Um, it starts somebody's got to lead and we are very blessed to have a good leader for our district. So, I'm sorry that was so soapbox, but it's the truth. All right. So, uh, motion passed that we move, uh, change Mr. McDonald's number from, uh, 110,000 to 115. So, have a motion on the floor to amend the $120,000 for our director to $15,000. I'm um No,

120no, we didn't. I'm talking about Mr. McDonald. Mr. McDonald's. Yeah. Uh Mr. McDonald's. We're on Mr. McDonald's motion and Miss Bower's second that we amend the 120,000 from uh 120,000 uh salary for our director to 115. Uh have a motion in a second. Do we have need to have any more discussion on that? Okay. Then um we'll start uh uh we'll start with roll call vote and did I start with I'll start it. Start Mr. McDonald. Yes. Mr. McDonald voted yes. Um, Miss Douglas, yes. Mr. Smith, yes. Miss Officer, yes. Miss Stone, Miss Fowler, yes. Okay. Motion passes to a amend the director's salary from 120,000 to 115,000. Thank you all. I appreciate your support and I'm I'm honored to lead this school system and I do um appreciate everybody that works in this school

121system and makes it great. I'm just honored to to lead it and I appreciate the opportunity and the support that you give me. Thank you. All right. Um, so those are two items that needed to the items that I felt we needed to address. Is there anything else in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 that we need to address? Okay. Then I want to recap what we are voting to approve for the for the uh uh general purpose school fund. We have a motion and a second to approve the 2026 general purpose school fund that has been amended by removing the $2,000 local licensed administrators and school psychologists uh bonus of $2,000. It has it added by amendment a $500 bonus for full-time staff totaling approximately $170ish,000. I want to say $170,000. Interesting. If

122we need to amend the number, we can amend the number when the exact number can we not at uh regular meeting. So okay, correct. Correct. Okay. Correct. Correct. We know we know the amount and you know the you'll know the numbers. That would be so we're passing that dollar amount per employee. Okay. We said, did we have the exact number on that? I don't know if we can get to that based on the information was provided because of the 30. Is everybody comfortable with that? We trust that that will be reflect. Okay. Just I just want to make sure. And then um with that amendment and then the last amendment is uh the director's salary uh being removed uh being amended to uh $115,000. So that's what we're voting on. Um going to give you

123one last chance for uh uh opportunity for questions or discussion, but then after that we'll take a roll call vote. Okay, we'll uh we'll go roll call vote. Um start with Miss Fowler. Are we voting on accepting the We're voting on we're voting on approving the general purpose school fund budget. Um Miss Stone, no. Miss Officer, yes. Mr. Smith, yes. Miss Douglas, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. Motion passes. So, uh that uh that concludes our agenda item for the general purpose school uh budget. And uh Miss Sally will get that amended and then we will get that to Mr. Markham and then that will move forward to the uh to the county. When Mr. Markhamm, when does that go to the county? Is that first meeting in June? Yeah, it'll be before the budget committee on

124Monday night. Okay. This Monday. Yeah. This coming Monday night. Then the county commission would hopefully take it up on the third Monday night. Okay. All right. Um, so that leads us leads us down to next item on our agenda, and that's the approval of the 2026 um school nutrition budget. Um, confirming Miss Savage, no uh changes have been made to that budget uh proposal from our meeting on on Thursday night, excuse me, Tuesday night. So, at this time, I'll entertain a motion for approval. So, move. Motion by Mr. McDonald. Have a second. Second. Second by Mr. Smith. Any discussion? Any discussion? Okay. Hearing none, we'll go uh roll call vote. Start with Miss Douglas. Yes. Mr. Smith, yes. Miss Officer, yes. Miss Stone, yes. Miss Fowler, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. Motion passes. All right. Next

125item on our agenda is uh we We're presented with the approval of the uh of an AIA contract for the classroom additions at Do Elementary. Um the reason we this bringing forth in tonight's meeting is to try to give our general contractors uh the opportunity to get uh started on that uh couple weeks earlier than uh than would be originally stated. So uh that's the reason why that's been brought up to us uh for tonight. So entertain a motion for approval of the AI contract for classroom additions at duel. So moved. Motion by Mr. Smith. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Mr. McDonald. Any discussion? So just for clarity, this is seven classrooms and storage on the front side of the Doyle School. um attaching to the hallway, redoing the front entrance um

126of that school. Is that correct? Oh, sorry. Yes, that is correct. The contracted amount is uh $1,748,500 that was in the contract. Um and uh Midstate Construction is the contractor and that was u contractor that won the bid that was put out by the county. Any other discussion? Okay, hear none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. No. Motion passes. Uh next item on our agenda is uh public comment. Uh there's no one that signed up for to be recognized public comment tonight. So that leads us to new business. We have no new business item, nor do we have any old business items. So that leads us finally to our chairman's comments is the next regular scheduled board meeting will be June 12th at White County Board of Education. We will have

127our uh our work session at 5:00 and a regular board meeting at 6. Uh at this time, I entertain a motion for adjournment. So moved. Motion by Mr. Smith, second by Mr. McDonald. All those in favor? I. All right. Thank you for your your uh your effort tonight.