White County School Board Meeting 5/28/2026

001All right, two minutes and then we'll get started. Okay. test. Test All right. This time I'd like to call the May 28th meeting of the White County Board of Education to order. If you would please stand and we will have the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And thank everyone that's here tonight as we uh consider the business of uh of the school district. Uh but before we get started uh considering improving tonight's agenda, just please note the following that the Tennessee statute and board policy 1400 state that every meeting of the board shall be open to the public except where a law allows

002for a closed session. The agenda for the board meetings are posted on the district's website www.whostchools.net. The agendas are posted at least three days prior to each meeting. Public acts of 2023 chapter 300 board policy [snorts] 1404 state that each board meeting shall include an agenda item reserved for public comment as well as the conditions under which those wishing to comment will be recognized. Signup sheet is made available prior to the beginning of each regular meeting for those wishing to speak. Individuals who have signed up prior to the start of our regular meeting who wish to speak during this portion of the agenda will be recognized in the order listed on the signup sheet at the time designated for public comment. Legislation recently signed into law opens public comment up to include items agenda items

003as well as matters that are germanine to the White County Board's jurisdiction. Per the policy, the total allotted time for public comment will be 30 minutes and each speaker will be allowed three minutes to speak. Delegations shall select only one individual to speak on their behalf and unless otherwise determined by the board. It should not be expected that the board would take up any matter brought up during public comment period during tonight's meeting unless it was on the agenda. The public is encouraged to reach out to the representatives questions and comments about district matters. Board meetings are streamed with the help of our central technology staff for live or recorded viewing. Links are provided on the district district's website. Attending and or speaking during tonight's meeting applies consent for comments and appearances to be used.

004So we before we consider uh tonight's agenda like uh this time to recognize that if anyone has conflict of interest on the items on any item on the agenda tonight, please let that be known at this time. >> Mr. Chair, as I do each and every month, um nothing on the agenda tonight uh disclosures a conflict of interest for me. just uh making aware that my wife is an educator in this system and uh the opinions you hear from me tonight will be of mine and mine alone for the betterment of this district and our students and staff. >> Thank you, Mr. McDonald. >> Mr. Chairman, so I do not have a conflict tonight, but also my spouse is employed by the district. He does work as a counselor at the high school, but the

005opinions expressed tonight are mine and mine alone. >> Thank you, Miss Officer. Mr. Chairman, my wife is the bookkeeper at the high school. Uh, nothing on the agenda causes a conflict. Uh, but my opinions are mine and mine alone. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. So, let the minutes reflect that Mr. McDonald, Miss Officer, and Mr. Smith. All indicated they have spouses working for the district, but nothing on the agenda for tonight's uh meeting would constitute a conflict for them. So, with that, move on to the next item on our agenda, and that's approval of the agenda for tonight's meeting. Board members, you are presented with a uh copy of the agenda for tonight's meeting. Um ask this time if there's any questions or comments regarding the agenda, let that being known. Otherwise, I would entertain

006a motion for approval. >> So move. >> Have a motion for approval. Do have a second. >> Second by Mr. Douglas. Any discussion? Okay. No changes. Uh no changes made to the agenda. So uh have a motion and a second. So all those in favor signify by saying I. I >> opposed. Motion passes. Takes us to the next item on our agenda and that is the res review of the results of the director's evaluation. So board members in your packet uh uh thanks to uh Miss Rush and our technology staff. Uh we were provided with uh information regarding the uh director's evaluation for this current year. Uh you were provided in that packet uh that email um a composite score for all the for the five categories uh that uh we evaluated our director on

007and you saw the results for that um and uh then we also have included in that with the uh with comments uh on the uh that were left during the evaluation. So, this time I'd like to open up the uh discussion for uh uh just the review of the results of our director's evaluation. >> Mr. Chair, I I know I didn't bring my computer tonight and I don't have access to that, but there in in front of you, can you can you like state the the overall scores just for public record so that so that folks know kind of how how things went for him? >> Sure. Um so uh there were uh 52 questions that director was evaluated on broken down into five sections. Um sections uh questions uh 1 through 23 uh just

008regarding overall u uh operations as his uh his responsibility as a director. And then uh questions uh 24 through 25 were staff and personnel relationships. Um section number three was educational leadership. Section number four was business and finance and the final one was strategic planning and skills. So for each of those categories um the first category received a composite score of 3.53. Uh for staff and personal relationships composite score was 3.4. For the educational leadership, the uh the composite score was 3.56. For business and finance, it was uh 3.54 and for strategic planning skills uh it was 3.36. So all composite scores were above uh above a three and for uh for the record it is a four-point scale in which we evaluate the uh he's evaluated. Anything below a two uh would require a

009uh uh requires a a comment uh for uh for any score below two. Uh there were three responses that uh that were turned in um and those were provided uh in the uh in the email. Um the uh some of those comments regard to uh uh just uh personnel and and openness uh to uh to the to the employees at at various levels. Um the other was uh uh there was some comments regarding uh uh planning and strategic planning, short and long-term planning. Um and uh so there was some comments on that. And then uh community development communication skills. Those were uh those were the constructive criticisms or constru constructive observations. U can't say that these were criticism necessarily but observations that were uh shared during the valuation process. other questions and comments regarding u

010our director's evaluation. >> I I do want to say and I appreciate um Mr. D you providing us with um with proof of what he's done over the last year. Um although for me it was just a a little bit late. Um whenever he got it to me that but that made no no difference in the way that I scored him and and the way uh maybe some of the rest of you scored him. Um but I do appreciate him putting in the work and and putting up um the numbers so that we can see uh what he has done over the year and and I appreciate that. So, uh, if you're looking for a motion to approve his evaluation, I would, uh, I would make that motion. >> Okay. Uh, thank you, Mr. McDonald.

011We would look to approve this evaluation score. So, I have, uh, motion for to, uh, approve the, uh, director's valuation, uh, results as presented. Do I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Smith. Uh, discussion. I think the results reflect a a strong director and a great leader and I think we're very blessed to have him. I I know over this over the several years or the last few years that we've been doing this, we we've talked about a a different type of of evaluation. you know, this being my last evaluation that I would do him. Um, moving forward, I would still encourage this board to look into a different type of evaluation, and I know that's a long-term goal. Um, but to me, I think that would be beneficial to um every board member.

012Uh, not just the ones that are here, but the ones that are going to be coming on. >> Thank you, Mr. McDonald. I think just for for the record um speaking to that because we have uh served uh together for a while you and I Mr. McDonald had some conversations about that. I do think we've made progress in the uh in the area the fact that u asking for objective evidence. think that's um that's uh fair for for our director but also fair for us in our consideration of the uh of the uh questions so we can compare when a question is being asked what evidence is provided and and having that evidence to uh to look at is is u takes the the subjectiveness out of it and if we have a problem with

013how what u what he's doing for to accomplish one of those objectives then uh we certainly have the have the uh the opportunity then to bring that up for discussion. Any other comments? >> Okay, I have a motion and a second to approve the results of the director's evaluation for the 2026 uh calendar year. All those in favor signify by say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion passes. Next item on our agenda is approval of the fiscal year 2027 uh general purpose school fund budget. That's fund 141 and then our cafeteria uh school budget which is fund 143. So board members, we will take those separately even though they're not uh itemed out on the agenda as as separate. We're going to consider those separate and we'll have motions on those uh individually. So, uh

014do appreciate all the hard work that went into providing us with the financial information uh for the proposed budget for the school uh for this upcoming calendar year or upcoming school year. Um and uh know a lot of hard work went into that. I was really impressed and have to say again, thank you uh to Mr. Markham financial staff for providing us with u u more easily digestible data to look at as far as uh where the expenditures go. Uh and you can uh you appreciate that and and that was found that very very useful. Um one of the things and I appreciate uh our director putting this in. Um, and you if you look at the uh the the the documents that are provided to you in your packet coming into uh tonight's meeting,

015um, one of the things that that I asked the director to do in preparation is for to provide a uh some type of visual and he chose a pie chart to show uh for the general purpose school funds where the revenue comes from because I think that's important to us for us to know that and then where the expenditures are going um because I think that is also important for us to know. So if you look in your u look in your folder uh you can see it's uh it's GP charts and so uh as you look at that uh that graph you can see that for for revenues uh we get approximately 19% um from local taxes. um we get 80% from the from the state and all other sources of income come in

016um from the license and permits for other charges and then um a percentage from from the federal government. Now, um we'll get into this talking about revenue uh and the federal government just for clarity uh a little in just a minute, but uh that information is showing, you know, where the bulk of our our revenue comes from. The bulk of our revenue does come from the state, but we uh which we appreciate and we also appreciate local taxpayers uh contribution to uh to the budget as well at that 19% level. When you look at general purpose school fund expenditures, um if you look at the uh the way the monies are are broken down there, uh you can see that 62% of the proposed budget is going to instruction which is direct benefit for uh

017for our students. We also have on top of that that would be uh for uh that would be impactful for the students is the support services at 34%. So combined you can see in the expenditures um it's totaling about 96% of the proposed budget is going to either for either instructional purposes or support services for for our students. Um so we're less than 2% for uh non-instructional services and then a minimal capital outlay for this this coming year. So uh just in just as a general overview uh just to see kind of where our funds are where our funds are going in a big picture and then of course we have the uh the budget that is fund the detailed numbers that were provided for us uh that we reviewed Tuesday night as well as

018uh have in front of us tonight. to consider uh you can look into that the detail but I did think it was is important to see where the money is coming from the sources and then also the uh uh the use of the money just to make sure that um if we using the funds for education that uh that that's where should be the majority of the money should be spent. So give you a chance pause if you there's any comments on that particular uh sheet of information. Okay. If uh if no comments on that, then uh we'll move over to uh to our general purpose school fund. Uh we will we will look at that first. Um and just for uh for clarity uh just make sure we all we're aware that uh the

019uh we are we are uh projecting currently budgeting for a uh $ 38 million and some change uh revenue uh coming in for uh to support our our uh our district and the proposed budget uh expenditures is uh 42 42 million and and some change. Um there is a discrepancy there of about uh about $4 million. Um but as uh we have to keep in mind that some federal programs that will come in uh later uh in the fall when uh the federal federal monies are released that will uh that is not included here and those do come and support some of the services that uh that are listed here on our uh on our uh our expenditures. So but those monies can't be budgeted now because we really don't know what what those are.

020So there is a little bit of a uh there is a gap there. Uh historically we've had that and uh but there will be some some money some revenues coming in that will offset that uh uh that deficit as we get in and and give our our federal funds the opportunity to come in. But overall, uh, board members, just want to give you give you the opportunity to comment on the, uh, the budget as a, as a whole, and then if you have any specific questions, um, we have, u Mr. Markham here with us tonight that could, uh, that we would, uh, made make himself available for to answer some of the any questions that you might have. >> Mr. Chairman, I've got a I guess a clarifying question, and this probably is a Mr.

021Markham on this document here the proposed revenues is 38 million27,209 but on the big spreadsheet I don't know what is that my computer going nuts this thing's make it's fine it's just didn't know if I was doing that but on the spreadsheet it says 37947209 difference of $80,000. That is most likely explainable. But before we move forward in any kind of vote, am I seeing that correctly? And did we did we talk about an $80,000 discrepancy on Tuesday that I don't remember? >> No. No. And it is and of course it's hard to do whenever it's printed out but I apologize if you fil I had a filter applied to that and so to the percentage change and so if you take out that filter on the spreadsheet is on that it is 38027209. >>

022So this is let me let me [clears throat] just tell you what that is. If you give me just a second, I can get you that number. Which one it was that was filtering that out there? >> So, so on this sheet on page two of the um proposed budget for 27, it's 38 27,209. On the spreadsheet for revenues, it's 37947209. Difference of 80,000. >> Yes. Okay. It is uh 46513 Tissa on behalf payments. Um I apologize when I filtered that out. I filtered out uh all the NBS [laughter] and that was that was one that was an NB. And just for um for everybody's to remind everybody what those T-OW on behalf payments are. When the state generates uh or determines how much that our district generates with all with our population, they withhold

023a portion of that to make payments directly to vendors on our behalf for like act test and stuff. Just there's very minor things, but there are some things that they do that for and they do that statewide. Um and that is what that is. We have to show that as revenue coming in and then as an offsetting expenditure. Um, so that's the TISA on behalf payments because they're making those payments on our behalf, but that that would be that difference. I apologize about that. >> No, you're fine. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith, for pointing that out, but u that is correct. I downloaded the the spreadsheet and removed the filter. It does it does come out. So there's there's no discrepancy there for uh what's on on the sheet. >> That NB gets

024me every time. >> Mr. Mr. Chairman, I have a question. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Just about that the pay for the SRO's. Is that >> is that partly sheriff's department and school system? Can you explain how that goes? >> Sure. So, all the SRO's in the district are uh county sheriff's department employees. Um the state three two three years ago provided a grant of $75,000 per school. Um, and that is that is a grant to the county uh sheriff's department. And so those employees are paid out of that grant and are all uh on the county payroll. Um they're the second SRO at the high school. It only pays for it only you can only use it for one SRO. So even if the [clears throat] $75,000 would cover the salary for two SRO's, the

025state won't let you do that. You can only pay for one. So that second SRO at the high school is paid for by the school district. And the way that that happens, they are still a county sheriff's department employee, a sworn officer there. Um, but we will bill the school system for 10 of the 12 months. So we take that officer salary, divide it by 12, and then take 10 months and and and the school system pays reimbures the general fund, the county general fund for that. The other two months are paid paid for out of the county general fund. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Great question. What other questions, board members? >> So, back to that SRO. Um the $75,000 that the grant that comes through, so that's per school. The the county is

026given that per school in the district. Um, does that $75,000 that covers their salary plus their medical insurance and all the taxes and all the things that roll into that? >> Yes, it covers that in any equipment or or items that they need. If you recall, I think the first year that we got that, we were able to purchase new new well, they weren't new, but used new new to them vehicles for all the SRO's and that come out of those fundings, but it has to be specifically for that SRO at that school. And there's no, you know, just because we might can use all $75,000 at Bondicoft, we can't take any leftover money from another school and do that. So, it has to be specifically per school that we have to report that out.

027>> And is that a continuous grant year after year or is that something we have to apply for? >> It's a it's a as long as the state continues to fund it after the Covenant shooting, that was one of the things. And so, uh, that they come forward with was was that. And so, yeah, that's >> it's not really a something we have to apply for it, but it's not really a competitive thing. >> Okay, good. Thank you. >> Other questions, board members? Th this is one that I wish that we had some staff here that Mike could could answer this, but um I know we've you know we're we're having trouble with with our special ed department. We're having we're having trouble finding special ed teachers. Um folks that are uh willing to work

028in those kinds of environments. Um, where did the money come from to hire a special ed coach? Is that a grant that we got to to do that like we got with the coaches, the curriculum coaches that we had before? Um, and you know, I listen, I'm all about making sure we have the best teachers, but I'm just not understanding why we would have taken a very, very good special ed teacher out of the classroom and put her into a coaching position if it's still out of GP budget. So, I guess that's why I wish there was somebody from administration here that would could be able to answer. And Chad, I don't know if you can answer that or not. I I can just speak to the fact that that is a GP funded position

029and uh you know those coaches um help support uh the the special ed teachers and also the gened teachers that have uh special ed students in their classrooms and lots of those uh there you know many of them are do go through have a class in special ed um or you know just your regular general ed teachers but they need that support so that those students can function approp appropriately and and and flourish in those general ed classrooms as well. And so, um, I know that that, uh, that position is is just as as a, uh, an effort to help and assist those, make sure that we are we are addressing all of the issues that are needed for our special ed students, whether they're in a special ed classroom or a general ed classroom.

030And and is really, you know, we we provide support for math teacher for math teachers and reading teachers. I mean, this really no different for our special ed teachers. they need somebody to help support them and bounce ideas off of and just kind of kind of coach them along through the process. So, I do know that it's a GP funded position. So, >> and I appreciate I don't want anybody to take that wrong wrong that I'm not in support of of getting them all the help they need. I just know even with the the coaches that we that we took, you know, to to help with our gened teachers, um I mean, we took really really good teachers out of the classroom and and that's just that's just been stuff that's brought up been brought

031to my attention uh from several people in the district and just asking those questions. So, um I was just trying to get it out there and and I I failed to call Mr. day today and I I knew he was not going to be here tonight and just didn't want to bother him in with the situation he's in. And so I just thought I would see if you had had an answer if anybody else has had any of those questions or or or calls uh about that as well. So >> thank you Mr. McDonald for bringing that that up. Um I I certainly understand your where you're coming from there. Um but also from standpoint of how we have been it has have had success with coaches um and somebody that can kind of step

032outside that box and and give some some overview sounding board um especially if you have people come in that are trying to need some help for you know addressing certain situations um it's a luxury and if we can work that in um I would think that operationally wise I see I see that be being an advantage. Um and really have to leave that up to the staff to be able to determine you know how many teachers we need versus how you you support the the ones that you have. >> Yeah. Yeah. And again, I don't want I don't want anybody in Miss Barnes. I know Miss Barnes is here and I know she's our technology coach and I and I appreciate all the effort that she does to get folks who might not be as

033technologically savvy like my wife through the dayto-day of Yeah, I just called her out. Sorry. Um but she would agree. Uh to get them through that dayto-day and I appreciate that. I appreciate the the forward thinking that we have as a district uh to be able to um to look forward. I just know in in times sometimes it's just are we are we approaching it the right way? Uh, I'm just putting things out there that people have asked me and and and like I said, I I want to make sure that our teachers, our coaches, our uh administration know that I'm behind them 100%. And I want them to know that I've tried to fight for them and and and get them all the money that they that they deserve, but whatever we get them

034is probably never going to be enough because their job is so hard. And I understand it and and I appreciate um the efforts that's been put in here on this budget to try to help offset some of those co you know those those times. Um but I just want to I that was just my question. I want them to know that they're appreciated and they're wanted and they're valued um and and a great part of this this system. So I'll I'll hush now. >> Thank you, Mr. McDonald. Any any other questions, comments from the uh guess it' be south side of the of the room. Excuse me. Northeast. Okay, >> Mr. Chairman, um >> Mr. Mr. Smith, >> one of the things that that we talked about this time last year was the director salary

035and I went back and watched the video of our meeting and we we went uh from I think 110 or 120 was in the budget and we through conversation we settled at 115. And if you look at the information that we've been provided on director salaries for likes districts like us and we have about 35 3600 students the average salary is 147715 the median is 145 807 and I think our director if he would hear and I've heard him say it that he stands on the shoulders of so many uh in the school district and you you can't help but deny the great marks that the school system has had over the last couple years, maybe even before that, at least since my time on the board. I I would wonder if we're we need

036to consider increasing that salary in some level over the next couple years again to make it competitive for the the time in which um just be quite honest, Mr. D decides to retire. Um, we we have extremely qualified people in the school system that might consider a step up when that time comes and I would like for us to be competitive to retain them going forward. Um, not sure if the others on the board want to entertain conversation about increasing it beyond um, let me find it again. It's a two 2% by contract, which takes it to 117300. Um, that's still not the 120 we started with last year. U, I'd propose something uh a little higher to get into that competitive range. >> So, M Mr. Smith, appreciate you bringing that up. That's um

037I was planning to go there next because uh if you look at the the budget, [clears throat] excuse me, if you look at the budget um that is the one area that uh that is we would have the most impact and one of the reasons why think we uh we need to do that for is for exactly some of the things that Mr. Smith uh brought up um the market for this position in the district, across the state, and then across the the nation is is uh higher than what u what where we're currently at. Um that doesn't mean that we can always afford to be where everybody else is because there's a lot of other things that go into play that uh that determine what that you know what that market value is. However,

038if u to Mr. Smith's point, if we have to go out and look for a replacement at some point in time, that that will happen. Um we don't need it to be a shock that saying that we're paying u a director. um you know our our pay for for for this position is you know roughly 30% of what the average is in in the upper or middle Tennessee in the upper Cland. Um that would be a shock if if we would uh if we're not at least conscious of that and having having those discussions. So, appreciate you you bringing that up, but um want to give others the opportunity to if they have any thoughts on that on just, you know, where we are as far as the position, what we're offering for the position

039um versus where our our neighbors are at. I kind of feel like Mr. Mr. Smith and myself are kind of dominating the conversations here. But um to your point, Mr. Chair, and to Mr. Smith's point, um Mr. D's contract runs out December of 2027. Okay. So that's year and a half away. Um, if he decides not to want his contract extended, I promise you, we're not going to get in the ballpark and hire anybody for this position at what we're at now. Um, 100%. We're not going to we're not going to be able to entice somebody to come in here, whether we promote from within or whether we go outside. Um, we're not going to bring somebody into White County with the exceptional school district that we got and stay at $117,300. Not going to

040do it. Um, I I would like to see us do something. I don't know what we can do. We're already in a deficit budget as we as we speak, but as we look at it over the last several years, we're putting a half a million dollars back in our GP in our general purpose school fund this year, put a million and a half last year. Have done some phenomenal uh capital outlay projects. Um, you know, we really were able to knock it out of the park when when the CO money hit and and that was a blessing to this county. uh we were able to get several things done and so appreciate that. But um yeah, I'd like to hear some more some more conversation on where people think we we need to be. I

041mean, I I agree. You know, last year we were at 120. Uh settled on the 115, still nowhere close to 120 this year with the 2% raise. So, yeah, I would just like to hear some more conversation about it. Miss Bower, >> I know it seems like I ask this often, but how many students do we have >> countywide? 36 roughly 3,600. Yes, ma'am. And just for u just for um record what we're pulling from, we were provided a uh a document that u or a uh file that uh showed pay pay scales across the district um excuse me across the um across the state, Middle East and and West Tennessee. Um we're also given some information regarding the u nationwide what this position is and um so that's what we're we're talking about these

042averages. Um that's the information that we're we're pulling from. Uh so for the uh and and that is broken down by size because obviously um districts with uh higher population um those serving that position are are being compensated more. Mr. Chairman, speaking from my side of the table. So, if you look at the large sheet, yes, it's the 117. But if you look on page seven of the other handout, seven of page 10, and you look at some other benefits that are there for the director of school, some of these additional things where we're talking about the benefits of social security and the retirements and insurance. Um, not sure about postal service, but some of those extra things. there are some other compensations um for this office. Again, I'm not saying that 117 is a

043great number, but I think that when you look at some other benefits to this that we're closer on some of those things. Um communications, for example, um does he have his own cell phone that we pay for? Yeah, the district does provide him cell phone and I also think um internet access. >> Uh is there a vehicle >> laptop? >> Is there a vehicle also? >> Yes. >> So So there's some things that are outside of that 117 and I just wanted to to point that out. >> That that is correct, Miss Officer. And I thank you for for bringing that up. Um yes, and that uh that is uh true with all positions within the district. So uh the salary that uh the actual salary is one component but you also have uh other

044things that um that compensate the total cost and obviously if you increase say a salary position there are some things that are going to rise with that so such as social security the retirement match medicare uh the employee employer Medicare portion of that um the dues and subscri so so a couple of those if you guest perks um there uh that were were that you're you're mentioning. Um there's clear career ladder program program that he was part of, but I think that's being uh done away with, but uh there's a $1,550 that's uh that's a uh a matching uh for u comes from the the state if I'm not mistaken that they there's a stipen that he gets for that. Excuse me. That's other salaries and wages. So something that that uh that there's uh

045we're supplementing for uh for there. Um there's uh the communications. Yes, that it's benefit. Um there's dues and memberships obviously. uh that's uh for like his uh his involvement with with TOSS and some of the other things that he's uh he's a part of uh that uh for for uh for to be with others in in groups associations with for people in his position. Um and so then there's some postal and there's some some travel. travel is not really a benefit not paying for him to to take vacations um but you know benefit but those would be more more professional related um I think for the uh if you're looking for the the benefit for the individual uh it would be made up of your your salary compensation um the medical bene the medical insurance

046um communications would be considered benefit there as well and then um and that's it. Um when you when you go when you go through our our uh account line item as for uh for for compensation or things that are charged uh for cost of our our director of schools. One question she brought up about the vehicle. Um the vehicle we provide him is not a daily driver vehicle if he's going on vacation if I'm correct. Right. That is correct. >> And if he needs to use that vehicle, I mean, he has asked before. He's furnished the gas. He he's taken care of th those things if but he's but he's always been diligent about asking and making sure that we're okay and that we know where that vehicle is going to be and and I

047appreciate that. So >> that that's correct. That's not not necessarily a personal use vehicle. It's uh it's it's for district business, [clears throat] which sometimes may be hard to distinguish between between the two, but uh but it it's a district business vehicle. >> So, yes. Okay. I um I see both points because I kind of agree with Jason on that. You know, when um Mr. decides his time is up. It's I do feel like it's going to be tough to find somebody, but then you do look at the other things and I mean I know we would have to do the social security and all that, but that does add up for a chunk and and I know we set a deficit budget last year and I didn't agree with it and we all always

048have, you know, because we don't know what money we're going to get coming in always. But what what if we do this negative 4 point something million and there's stuff that we may not get. That's what I always look at. I I just have a hard time with that through this whole process. >> Listen, I understand and I appreciate that. Um I I understand and appreciate that that that does make this that does make this part a little bit challenging. Um if uh and just you know to uh to put it in in perspective um the um roughly the uh the difference between what uh our current compensation offer is or under current contract is versus uh what the the averages of the uh of the uh Middle Tennessee area. Um we're we're below average

049by about $30,000 um roughly. And that uh that is not u that is a that is a a significant amount of money from budget standpoint if you just accumulate that that uh over and over and over. But uh the same time that uh that's uh probably a a that's a very small percentage small portion of the overall budget and potential desk deficit that we that we might might have. again those budgets and those expenditures um staff have managed those real well because they've never on my tenure on the board we've never come back at this time of year looking at budget and said everybody over spent. >> Excuse me, Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, ma'am. Uh uh if I might uh I know a lot of the principles in the other schools um might aspire to

050one day be a director. And I think we have a lot of qualified people right here in our district that would do an exceptional job if he chose not to renew his contract. And um that is the highest job you can do here in White County. And I think we would have quite a few very competent applicants from that level. Uh I'm sure they would appreciate the increase in pay, but I still think they would be more applicants that would be very well qualified. So, I think um you understand the and appreciate you bringing that up uh uh Miss Stone. uh from the standpoint that throughout the district if you when you think about it as far as personnel responsibilities um principles would have the most next to our director would be responsible for the

051most amount of employees and that is something that uh from a manager or somebody that's either CEO or high high ranking official that does have bearing and in compensation and position um and so the Um uh the principles would be depending on where they are in their tenure because there is a scale for that um that would be the next highest paid job in in the district um based on how our our pay scales are set up because there is more responsibilities of uh for for those individuals and for that position. I mean obviously our our director position um they require require full-time employment 40 hours a week. However, we all know that uh the position itself is much more than than a 40-hour week job. Um, so I'm just going to throw something out

052here and just for for your consideration, um, I think from from a district standpoint, we should consider are we satisfied that we're paying high per that we're paying high performing employees um, less than what market value is. I think that's I think that would be question number one. Um at uh currently based on the uh the uh the uh average average salary for the position in Middle Tennessee. Um we are currently and this is with the proposed compensation increase um that was presented in this budget. We are still 20 and a half% below market. So we're in effect getting 20% discount for this position market based. Um, and while I think that it would be a while I think it would be um it would be a lot to go from where we are now

053to market comp. Um, if he was turned in a reg his resignation, we might be faced with that. Um, but we're not faced with it now. And but I think the uh we need to consider that where we're at for a high performing district and you cannot say that White County is not a high performing district. We have the we have the uh the data to prove that we have uh reward schools. Uh we have uh we have uh funds uh from the from the state for for high achievement. Um the district is doing extremely well and uh that's done collectively across the uh across the district with with all uh all teachers, staff, um administrators. Um they they are all performing well and our director is performing well too. He is uh he is

054component of that leadership. Um the thought that was running through my head uh was was uh was this um I think that I think that if you look at where being 20% below market um an ideal target for me would be to get to at least 10% of market. Um, and if you look at where the the market is today, um, you know, 10% would be would be in the, uh, in the the 130,000 range. Um, but it's not to say that you have to do that all in one year. It's what the board uh what the board would feel feel compelled to do. But I do think as a board we need to make it a point to try to get the position more more to to market because Miss Stone, as you said,

055those uh you know those the talent that we have within the district, you know, we want we want them to to stick around and maybe consider for a position when it comes open. And you don't want it to be you don't want the difference for the job to be you want it to be worthwhile. You don't want it just be nominal more than what they're making now. You want it to be something that they would aspire to said for the effort and the work that it would the the uh the difference in pay would would uh would merit them taking that step from where they are to to to that position. So you you would want to make it attractive in my opinion. But uh that's that's some that's some thoughts I had. I just

056wanted to put that out for you to uh uh again for for discussion. >> Yes, ma'am. Give me just a second. I'll see if I can give you get you close. Okay, >> bear with me. >> You're going to run anywhere from 92,000 at the high school to 75,000 at elementary school. So there's your I mean little less than 100, you know, 8,000 less than 100 and then 25,000 less than 100. So, >> and again that's based a lot on population. >> It is. It is. >> And years of service. >> Yes. And there is a sc there is a scale for that as well. >> And and even the the senior staff at the board of education runs in a similar amounts. >> Yes. >> Supervisor. >> The supervisors supervisors all that's going to

057be in that in that uh in that area. So, one thing that to put it in context for um us to think about if if we think along the the sports realm of this, we're getting a director of schools that would be in a single A bracket to play in a 3A bracket. our our dire I mean we're paying our director of schools what a single a single a dire or single a school a school of probably seven to 800 students range from and and we're about three times that >> yeah for Mr. Mr. McDonald, you bring up a great point and let me just give you some data on that. Um, for districts with dis for districts with less than 7,000, excuse me, districts less than 700 students, the average salary base, okay, and

058I think that Miss Officer may clarify for you some of the perks that go on with that. um the average salary base for for uh students with uh or districts with less than 700 students, that's 119,000 in Middle Tennessee. So if you go up to say districts between 700 and uh 2499, Mr. McDonald. That would probably be a little bit closer to your single uh u single A uh districts, their their average salary is 120. If you're looking at um if you're looking again and this is like like size districts. If you just looked at across the state districts like size to White County, that's where the 147,000 uh number comes in. So that's that's the that's like districts um for this position. >> So something that Miss Douglas just said in my ear, their

059their teacher pay in those districts are probably higher, too. their aid pace probably higher, too. So, gonna play devil's advocate here. Um, what are we going to do for our for our support staffs, you know? I mean, we're we're not paying them a market wage. I I mean, honestly and truly, they're not working here, our aids and our our support staff, they're not working here for the money. They're working here because they love these kids. They're they're here for um they're here to have a job. they're not going to make a living off of it. They most of them have husbands or wives who work and support them uh and give them that freedom to be able to do that. I I just think we're going to have to we're going to have to be

060looking at the pay for those folks down the line down the road, too. So, um times are changing. Times have changed. the the cost of living has changed for me, for you, for my kids, your kids, everybody's kids, the grandkids. It's going to be it's only going to get more expensive to live in this world and in this country and in this county than it does right now. And and I I'm going to get back on my bandwagon of the the state legislature. they they've taken and taken and taken from us to where it's making it hard on us as a board to be able to fund these positions uh and fund these um proposed raises. Yeah, they're giving us money, but there's always stipulations to it and and then they come back in the

061middle of the year with these TISA funds and they say, "Oh, we're going to take this away from you. We're going to take this money away from you that we said we was going to give you." So, I I just think we need to we need to look at it all. Our teachers have gotten uh good raises over the last several years when we redone our pay scale. Um they have been very very well compensated for the things that that they do. Um and the state has put those, you know, parameters in place to get us to that $50,000 start start pay. Um, I wish my first year at my employment that I would have been able to make $50,000. Um, and I know Miss Douglas, she and I have talked about it several times

062that when she left education, she probably wasn't making that much or or more or no no more than that. And that's one of those things that that she did it for the love of the children. And I think that's what we're going to have to in the future look at the hourly rate for these folks that are getting paid every two weeks. Um and and I think that's that's something if we do this this year for Mr. D, we and and he says in in January, hey, I'm going to retire at the end of the year. You know what? We've made a little small step, but next budget cycle, it's going to have to be a bigger one because the next person coming in is gonna going to see, well, this is a high performing

063district. They need to be paying this. So, I I appreciate all the conversation. >> Mr. McDonald, I um I just want to piggyback on something you you just said, high performing district. all the work that has gone into getting this district here. We can't solve every all problems. We can't we can't pay everybody what for what the true value that they're they're offer off offering is. But we um from a director's standpoint um from a district standpoint, we're performing well. Um, so that next hire the bar has been raised and so it's going to mean that the next person you come in, you want to make sure that you get somebody that can lead and not and and address some of those things that you're talking about, Mr. McDonald of how do we going forward

064in the future? How do we address the way things are changing with personnel and and what uh and and costs and being a being able to address those hard those hard subjects >> and at the end of the day it's it's our director staff um uh fiscal agent. I mean it's those that are having to wrestle with those those decisions. We we really just have to wrestle with one And um so while we we're very happy when we're able to vote and approve for them to get increases in compensation, um our responsibility from a personnel standpoint is one. >> Mr. Chairman, the Mr. McDonald brought up the pay scale. Is that something that's reviewed on a periodic basis? How does how did that come about? I think that predates me being on the board. >>

065Well, I think that we reviewed pay skills um the year before you came on board. >> Okay. >> U because we were having to plan for the adjustment when the state said that we needed to move our starting pay up. So, they did a very comprehensive look at at uh at at uh >> both uh licensed and non-licensed uh staff. And so we spent I think two years ago uh time looking at that. I think we looked at one last year. >> Okay. >> Um came in but uh I think it may have just been for a correction. But but yes to answer your question those are reviewed um and they had to be reviewed during that time when they were trying to move that that starting pay up. >> When is the next review?

066Is it scheduled in such a way that every three years, four years, five years? >> Yes. I I think uh I don't think that there is a set schedule for when that's reviewed. Okay. >> At least >> not that I recall. I I would say that it's it's something that uh obviously when you're going out recruiting teachers and you're having to judge market conditions for what teachers are uh salaries are, I have to think that when you're looking at personnel plans and recruiting people, you're having you're taking that in that information into consideration uh for if we're how does our scale look if you're losing people to another district compared to what their scales are. So, I know there's a lot of there's a lot of a lot of bench benchmarking against other districts and

067and that's that goes back into that market uh cost. Mr. Markham, >> and this year we did look at the schedules um in a review to kind of consolidate and clean up. There was a lot of different levels maybe that that um we felt like we could consolidate and make it a little bit cleaner. So we did look at it from that perspective and make some adjustments there to help to help streamline things. >> Mr. Mark, am I wrong in something somewhere that the scale that's online and in the HR tab on our website, is that increased by 3% every year? Is there a 3% increase there or is it >> I don't recall the exact percent, but there is a percentage increase based on the the the level that you're at. And that's what

068we tried to address two years ago whenever uh Chairman Young was talking about um we had people uh specifically in our support staff positions that were making the same as somebody that walked in off the street. And so we tried to reward those folks that uh stuck it out and and stayed with us. And so that's why we did go to this scale a couple of years ago and then again made those adjustments this year to kind of clean that up. Uh but there is built-in um built-in increases based on uh your level there. >> Okay. I was wrong. It it it had on on the first page of that he's got it pulled up here. It has the the dollar amount. So, it's the 1625 this year. It doesn't really say a percent. It

069just has the dollar amount up in the far lefthand corner. >> And that and that's the certified. >> Yes, that's a certified. >> Can you go to the >> the Can you Yeah, you can go to the non-certified job. >> Thank you. Or support staff. >> That That's based on 1487 is an hour is the your lowest your lowest hourly rate. >> Okay. So that's based on the so that >> that's like step zero one you know 1487 >> coming coming into the district that's where you would start >> that's 148 that's an educational assistant step zero is 1487 and then based on the position and the steps um it goes up from there >> and so let's say we recruit someone from another district coming in who's been maybe in one of those positions.

070Um, with three or four years of experience, but just not in the district, not in this district, but still within that TCRS and within a school district, maybe an adjoining county or two counties over, somebody moved in. Would they come in at that step zero or would that be something that they would have the opportunity to um negotiate during the time of the salary talks on a on a um on a hire or interview? >> Am I making sense when I say that? >> Yes, >> I think so. I think it would depend on the situation and probably the position that was being filled is how that was handled. So if it was if it was a position that was hard to fill and you had somebody there was more than likely that they could

071they could negotiate maybe >> my understanding is that especially on those hard to fill positions you the director >> and and administrators Yeah. >> Uh well in administrator's input have the have have that discretion. >> All right. Yeah. Good good conversation. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Yes. Other thoughts and comments? All right. Um, so board members, we have to uh we have to uh vote and have discussion on the general purpose fund budget. Um, in that general purpose fund budget, there is um line items for uh for compensation for directors of schools. So, what I'm going to propose that we do that we get on the table the general purpose school fund budget for 2027 fiscal year and then we would entertain motions within that if we were going to make an adjustment to

072a line any line item in that budget. So the proper way to do that is we would come in and we would make a motion, put the motion on the table and then any line item underneath that we would vote to approve the budget based on whatever amendment that might come up. Okay. So I just want everybody clear on how we how I think with the proper way for us to work through this. >> We got to get a motion on the floor in a second to be able to have some deliberation. >> That is correct. on specific on specific on specific right now. We've just been have having general discussion. >> I I I I'll make a motion on the floor to uh to get um the discussion started and deliberation for the 20

07327 proposed general purpose school budget to approve it. >> So Mr. McDonald makes a motion to approve the general purpose school fund budget for fiscal year 2027. So I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second by Miss Officer. Now for discussion, I move that we line item account 72320 line item 101 which is the salary of the director modify the proposed from 117300 to 130 130,000. >> Okay. I have a motion by Mr. Mr. Smith to uh amend line item >> 72320. >> Mr. Mark, can you can you give us a percentage on that in your infinite >> it's it's 12%. It's 12% because I was roughly 12% because I was doing some figuring over here. >> Thank you. >> Um so apologize. I have a motion by Mr. Smith to amend

074um account 70 72320 um object 101 director of schools uh uh salary from the contracted 117 300 to I'm sorry Mr. Smith, you you said 130. >> Yes, sir. >> To 130. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Okay, I would second that that motion. Um, any discussion? >> Not this is this is deliberation. We'll take all the time we need. Okay. You want the exact percentage? >> Yes. >> The exact percentage is exact percentage is 10.83%. >> Okay. So that is that taking it from the 115 to the 130 or is that the 17? So the >> the the proposed 117 >> and that's the 10 point 83. Okay. >> What is it if you're taking it from the 115? [snorts] >> Um it would be it would be 12.83%. >> Yes,

075>> but we'll double check that. Hold on just one second. >> But he's guaranteed a 2% increase per contract. >> He's he's guarant it's 2% regardless. >> So we have to work off of the 117300. We can't work off of the 115. >> That is correct. >> Okay. So, we would be at a 10.83% increase. >> That is correct. Okay, I have a motion and a second. Um, we're in deliberation at this time. Uh, thoughts or comments? >> So, I have a question. >> Yes, Miss Officer. >> So, we're doing the line item. So this is base salary that we're looking about increasing. >> Yes. Yes, ma'am. >> So everything else tied to that would also increase. [laughter] >> That that is correct. >> So lot Miss Fowler I am uh uncertain is the word

076that I'm going to use of the unbalanced budgets. So, um I'm just cautious. And so, is there any way to have kind of a number like this is, you know, $12,000 more for this base salary, but overall, how much are we adding to the budget? Is >> I can figure that. Hold on just one second. >> Thank you. >> Unless Mr. Markham already has that figured. While Chairman Young is figuring other than insurance the other items that are listed under 72 320 if we increase the salary to what's being proposed does that automatically mean that the communication line goes up, the postal line goes up? >> No, sir. >> No. And I want to clarify on that communication line um paid out of that um is the the the cell phone that he has, but

077also anybody else in the central office dis in the district central office that has a cell phone that comes out of that as does the bin Lman bills for the central office. So that total amount is not quite, you know, >> it's on the big papers. >> Yeah. So um so Miss Officer Mr. Mark, I'm just confirm my numbers correct. The county match, the employer match is 0765%. >> Social Security Medicare. >> Uh that is and then the TCRS for next year is the uh 64 I believe. >> So is it a 3% match to the TCRS? No, it is an additional match. Let me just get you that exactly. >> So, so >> 6.35% match to TCRS. >> 6.35%. >> Okay. >> So, so one question that that that I have is um does

078he gain the same amount of sick time, vacation time that a general ed teacher gains or is he he's I mean he's a 12-month employee. So >> yeah, I'd have to look at his contract, but that's spelled out specifically for him in his contract. >> I didn't know how many proposed days he had, you know, in his contract. Okay. Um, >> so the overall I'm sorry. So the overall difference in going from 117300 to 130 is uh a 14,470 $478 difference. So 12,700 is your base salary and then the difference there between those two are your social social security, Medicare and state retirement. So, >> so it's an additional $1,7800 for those benefits. >> So, annual compensation. I'm not sure if you're if you're able to figure this. I'm looking at annual compensation. Put the

079base salary in. I did the uh state retirement at point uh 06 0648%. Um then um that that math's not right. Um let's go with your number. It's a because I think I I've doubled up on a couple of these um the social security uh portion. Mr. Markham, you said it was Did I hear you correctly? You said you the calculation is about a $17,000 increase. Total cost for the for uh for the director, >> it'd be $14,478 increase to the budget >> to the budget. >> Okay. >> So that's everything. >> That that is everything >> to take to take it from where you to take it from where it is now to 130 it would be an additional 14478. >> All right. So that's Thank you. And and the only thing, if I

080heard you right, the only thing that changes in that is the the Medicare, the state, all of the state payroll taxes that come out of that >> medication, >> the communication. All of the other items in there listed stay the same. >> Correct. >> That's just the $1,400 or $14,000 extra would be added on top of the budget for just salary and anything Medicare, Medicare, Medicaid insurance, everything that goes along with that. >> Right. When you adjust that number in the 101 line, then that makes those other numbers go up correspondingly. >> Okay. >> And that's a 10.83% increase, correct? >> Yes, sir. Okay. Um, >> other questions? I mean, this is this is important out of respect to our director, but also to the board and our district, we need to make sure that

081we we think this through and get our questions answered. Can can can you give us numbers on instead of 10.83 and 8%. >> So, Mr. McDonald, I'm going to suggest that if we Oh, well, I'm sorry. I'm just if you want to get I just want some That's right. >> I just want some numbers to >> correspond with what we have here. So that would take the base salary and 8% would take the base salary to 126 684 instead of 130 >> and would be a 10,698 overall increase to the budget. So, >> Why do we not start at the 115 and do like 8%. Because I know he gets 2% anyway, but is part of the two. >> I mean, that's just giving him I mean, it's giving him eight total. >> So, if

082we if we did that, that would be 124,200. >> Yes. That's how I've been figuring all along. >> And so, that would be uh that would make it from 115 to 124,200. And that would make uh the well, the increase to the budget from where you're at now would be not hardly 7866 because you've already got 2% figured into that. So, >> right. >> But that would make the base salary 1242. >> Yeah. That and that's how I've been figuring it. Okay. Thank you. >> Mhm. All right. So, I'm going I'm going to give just just I'm going to give just a little coaching for everybody. Um, just make sure we're we're clear and we're following uh proper Robert's rules as best as I understand them. Um, so we have a motion on the floor

083to increase the director's salary line item budget from 117300 to 130. We had a motion and a second on that. So, if that motion is is on the on the on the table, so you can amend that motion if you want to come back with a with a different amount, but we'd have to vote on that amended amount and then come back to the mo and that would change the motion that would be that was previously made. So, I just want everybody to know as I'm sitting here trying to keep track of this. Um, if you if you have a different number in mind, you can, but you would have to you would have to make a motion, get a second. We'd have to vote on that to see to to change the number that's

084that's been that's currently on the table. >> Mr. Chairman, if if hang on, he's stopped. If a person did that, came back with an amended amount and we voted and agreed on that amount, what happens to the original motion? >> It's changed. >> Okay. It it's changed to the amended amount. >> I just want to make sure everybody clear on on that. Are all of these figures that we have been that we originally talked about are on the 115 or are they on the 117300? >> Is this 10% 10.83% from 117 is it >> that's 117. >> Okay. Moving it to >> it's 13.04% for 15. >> Yes. >> So it's really a 12% increase, right? That is correct >> to what he's currently making. >> Okay. [snorts] and we gave the teachers a 3%

085this year. Correct. it was 1625 was the base was adjusted. So the the minimum that anybody got was 1625. But then as we adjusted the the um steps up through there several of them were were more than that. So um I think as as we've as as he said last time it's 1625 plus some. Your plus some may be different in order to get everybody on the right the right step. You said that's 16 and a half%. >> No, 16 16 $1,625. I'm sorry. >> Okay. All right. I'm sorry. No. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> All right. I'm just making sure that I was Yeah. >> Yeah. That everybody knows that was that was a dollar amount, not a percentage. >> That's correct. >> We've been going back and forth between two. It's good time to

086make sure we're clear. [snorts] Yes, ma'am. >> Uh the teachers and the staff, the way that's figured, that's just a little over 3% raise for them. Correct. Between a three and 4% raise, Miss Stone, I'm gonna have to refer to Mr. Markham for that. Let me try to run that real quick. 3.25. Okay, we're rumor has it we think it's around 3.25% but we're going to wait for see if we have information a little bit better than that. Okay, so this is real back of the napkin math, but um roughly 3.57 if you average out all those changes. So, I appreciate that and I do appreciate uh the um comparing that to the district and district compensation um and seeing how we um how we win as a team and and lose as a team

087and and I appreciate that um that inquiry, Miss Stone. Um, one of the things on the teachers from the from a teacher standpoint is that we are and and this is a lot driven by the by the state is u but something that this board obviously supports is the what you're seeing there on a much larger group of uh of employees. You're trying to see that position become more attractive, be more of a market comp. And so, you know, at the at the end of the day, we as Mr. McDonald was talking about our some of the other positions throughout the district, the um compensation changes, a lot of that uh is is determined by market. If people start stop applying for jobs or they start leaving for other jobs based on uh compensation, then

088we're going to be counting on our administrators to figure out, okay, that's got to be a new number. What is it? And uh and make that, you know, from a from a market standpoint. And again with the data we're talking about for this position, we're considering it from a market position for the uh market value, market compensation based on the uh the position. All right. I I'd like to make an an amendment to this motion if I may. Um, after doing some math off of Well, Miss Douglas has done some math here. I won't take credit for it, but um because she's much smarter than I am. U right now, Mr. is at $115,000 is his base salary. Um, if we do 7% from $115,000, that gets his mandatory 2%. And then it's 5% on

089top of that, which is um, if we're at 3.52 for our teachers, that's double of what the I mean almost double what the teachers are getting. That takes you to 12350. Um, I'd like to put that before a motion to to raise it 7% from the 115 that he's at now, including that mandatory 2%. So, it would be 2% mandatory and then 5% on top of that to take the total to 123050. All right. So, uh, Mr. McDonald has made a motion to amend the three 130,000 salary as uh proposed by Mr. Smith to amend that number to $123,50. That was his motion to amend that amount. Um so have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. Second by Miss Douglas. All right. Now, discussion on the 12350 number >> and everybody sees

090where that I mean that that's the mandatory 2%'s in there. And and Mr. Mr. Markham, you may be able to give us the hard numbers on that if you know because he's making 115 now. He's getting 2%. That takes us to 117300. And then you add 5% on top of that to make it a total of 7% instead of the proposed before 12%. So can you Right. So what it does is it adds an additional $6,555 to the to to what's in front of you. >> Okay. Um, so I'm going to put this in perspective, um, just based on some of the things we've been talking about, uh, tonight. Um currently currently for the position based on the data that we have for um for Middle Tennessee uh the average salary of the director 147,400

091roughly dollars. We're currently paying paying our director um we are currently pay paying our director 20% below market based on that data. And so just in perspective if we move to 123 $123,50 We are still 17% below market. Okay. So I'm just u since that number was brought up, you know, for Yes. Understand we're talking about individual. We're talking about compensation for that individual. Um, we're also talking about from a district standpoint preparing for the point in time we have to offer this to position to somebody else to make sure we get best candidate. Um, we have a really good director in place now from a candidate standpoint. Um, that would probably could go to any neighboring districts in in our area and and uh uh negotiate at least for market comp. So uh uh

092but I just thought wanted to share that calculation is that uh that uh that motion uh that $123,50 that is we're still 17% behind market. >> We we still have to think about the simple fact that we're down $1,100 students than where we used to be to. So we got to get those students back. when when we get those students back that that means we're going to get more money from the state and we can't make it all up in one year. I I mean I I agree and I and I know we're below but I just with my heart I just think we're going to get wrecked over the coals if we do 12%. [snorts] >> Miss Power >> Oh, I was I was just going to say um I see your point. I

093I really do. Um but we got a lot of people struggling in our county and um I mean I had a few phone calls this week, but um yeah, I don't agree. >> All right. Is there any other discussion on u on this uh motion to this motion to amend? >> Mr. Young chairman. Um I think in all good conscience if we're only giving the teachers three and a half% if we're doubling that I I think that's uh saying a lot. Um but if we can only afford to give them that much I don't see like Mr. McDonald said I think we're going to take a lot of uh negative feedback if we try to jump 12%. And like he said we we can't get it all in one year. And this is not the

094best economy to be talking about that kind of race in my opinion. >> Thank you, Miss Stone. All right. So, um if there's no other discussion on that, then we're going to uh we're going to take up uh we're going to take vote on this uh uh amendment uh this amendment to the dollar figure amount for the uh the amendment that u budget amendment that Mr. Smith made. So the amendment is to to uh for to amend the amount of salary for fiscal year 2027 from 130,000 per year to 12350 123,00050. Um that is uh the what we're voting on motion to amend. That's the amount. So, uh, this time we'll take, uh, a roll call vote. Uh, Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> Motion to amend. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um, Miss Douglas, >> yes.

095>> Mr. McDonald, >> yes. >> Miss Fowler, >> no. >> Motion not to amend. Correct. >> Correct. All right. >> If I say that though, is it going to go back to the other? >> It will go back to 130. >> Well, I don't like that. >> All right. So, you're But okay. So, you're you're voting no on the >> But then you can vote against going to the >> Okay. So, I'm voting no. >> You want to vote yes to amend lower. >> Yes, ma'am. You want to vote to this number instead of the 130. That's what >> But then will we I thought this is just for >> then we can talk again. >> Then we'll talk again. >> Oh, okay. Let me let me resend that. Yes to amend. >> Yes to

096amend. Miss officer. >> Yes to amend. Miss Stone. >> Yes to amend. Okay. >> Your vote. >> Chairman doesn't have to vote unless there's a tie. >> Um, >> you don't want to vote in anyway. >> Pardon? >> You don't want to vote in? I made the motion for I made a motion for seconded the the first amendment. So that's kind of where I'm leaning, but that's that's okay. The board I'm with the board that because that amendment pass. So So yes, I'm I'm for theundu 123 050. Okay. So the budget amendment. [clears throat] So on the table now we have amendment one, Mr. Smith's motion that has been amended for moving the director's compensation from uh budget number from 117,300 to $123,50 for the uh proposed uh fiscal 2027 general purpose school fund bud

097u budget. So that's the uh that's the amendment that's on the on the table that we would need to address now. So any other discussion on that amendment? >> So just for clarity when when we vote at this time it will be to vote on the uh original motion as amended. >> Yes sir. >> To make the percentage a a 7% across the board for uh 123050 for the director salary for 2027 >> just for clarity just so we know. >> Yes sir. >> Okay. And I think we have to move this the understanding that that would have impact on other budget line items as well. But when we but that would >> that's just normal cut course of the flow down. So everybody understands that correct? It'll it'll mend those flow downs. Okay. >>

098So that's on the uh that's the amendment that's on the table. >> Keep it open for a little bit more discussion if needed. >> So I just I just want to make it clear. I'm not against anything over the 2%, but I I don't agree with the whole seven. >> Okay. So, do you need to >> Make an amendment. >> Amen. >> You sure can. >> Well, what we're back you can there's we're back on the original amendment, but yes, you could since that amendment failed, you do have the opportunity to to uh amend that. Yes, ma'am. You have another number. >> You got another number >> Okay. So I do I want to make a motion to amend instead of the 7% at 123 >> 50 to 5% at 12750. So that's 3% over

099his 2% raise. >> Okay. So, I have amendment. I have a motion to amend the uh director's salary for fiscal year 2027 from 100 uh proposed budget from 123, uh50 to 100 120,750. Have a have a motion by Miss Four. I have a second. >> Have a second by Miss Stone. All right. Discussion. Mr. Chairman, is that an overall? He would automatically get the 2% and that would be three more percent. So, a 5% across the board raise, correct? Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, any discussion on the amendment that's on the table that would adjust the the director's salary amount for fiscal year 2027 from 123,000 um $50 to $120,750. Any more discussion about on that number? Okay. If not, then uh we'll take a roll call vote and this will be

100yes. Yay will be yes will be to the uh amend the number down to 120,7750. So um start to my left. Miss Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Officer, >> no. >> Miss Fowler, >> yes. >> Mr. McDonald, >> no. Miss Douglas, >> no. >> Mr. Smith, >> no. >> Okay, the motion fails for uh for uh for reducing that number. So, now we're back on the original original amendment. Um have uh amendment on the on the on the table to uh adjust budget uh budget number account number 72320. Uh line 101, the uh director of school salary for fiscal year 2027. I have a motion to amend the amend the budget from 117 the proposed 117, 300 to 123,50. Any other discussion on that amendment? Okay, we'll take a roll call vote. Uh we will

101start with Miss Fowler. >> No. >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Miss Officer. >> Yes. >> Miss Douglas? >> Yes. >> Miss Stone? >> No. >> Mr. Smith? >> Yes. >> Okay. So the motion passes to amend the budget from for the director's salary for fiscal year 2027 from 117,300 to 123,50. Mr. Markham, can you give us maybe you did give us that number already, the total impact to the budget one more time. the impact to the num to what is was originally before you is an additional $6,555 in expenditures. >> Thank you. >> Okay. All right. So, uh board members, that takes us back to um the the motion on the table is for for approval of the 2027 general purpose school uh school budget fund 141. Um we've discussed the director's salary. We've

102also discussed the um uh other questions prior to that uh regarding the budget. And so I'm going this is going to be last round for any other questions regarding the uh fiscal year 2027 general purposeful school fund budget. [snorts] Okay. If uh if not uh we'll take roll call vote and uh start with uh Miss Douglas. >> Yes. >> Miss Officer, >> yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> yes. >> Miss Stone, >> yes. >> Mr. McDonald, >> yes. >> Miss Fowler, >> no. >> All right. Motion uh motion passes. Uh uh motion passes. So uh we approved the uh general purpose school fund budget that will go to the county commission to get final approval. So thank you. So the next item uh board members is uh the cafeteria fund. We were provided with uh information

103on the cafeteria fund uh revenues and expenses for the upcoming year. Um so projected revenues for uh for the budget for 2027 is 3,394,000. Uh that's a revenue increase projected at 3.2%. Um the proposed budget for expenses is $3,743 743,288. So that is a increase of56 uh,480. So a expense increase of 400 uh excuse me around 4.5%. So that nets, correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. uh Mr. Markham, but it looks like an overall uh def deficit of 1% projected. Correct. So I got confirmation on that that it is projected deficit of of 1% again uh very much like uh what happens with the general purpose school fund budget is the uh project low on the expense on the revenues higher on the expenses and uh and then work work accordingly. So that is the

104proposed budget that we need to be uh considering tonight for uh for passage. any uh anything we need to discuss before we consider any motions? M >> M Mr. Markham, um quick question on the cafeteria budget and and the revenues. I know um we don't have a lot of control over um a lot of the expenditures and a lot of the revenues that come in on that because it's federal money. Um but are we adding back to the fund balance on the cafeteria side? I know we won't do it as much as we would be on the GP side, but are we adding each year back to that budget or are we always in a deficit there? >> So, probably for the past two years, we've been drawing down on that deficit or drawing down

105on that fund balance. Prior to that, we were adding uh to the to the fund balance each year. And then uh well for fiscal year 25 we uh drew down $337,000 on that. Okay. >> Um we're projecting to um not quite as much uh this budget cycle or this fiscal year because we had some uh food service equipment purchases that we made in fiscal year 25. But we are expecting uh to see um to not add back to our fund balance this year. uh at least not a significant amount if any at all. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Any other questions about the cafeteria budget? Technical questions or we need Mr. Markham's input. Okay. If not, then want to entertain a motion for approval of the 2020 fiscal year 2027 cafeteria budget fund

106143. uh entertain a motion for approval. >> Have a motion by Mr. Smith. Do I have a second? Second by Miss Officer. Any discussion on this budget? Do do we see any any chance at all that commodities are going to go down at all on the cost of goods and and food? I I mean I I know it's a silly question to ask, but >> I'm going to ask it. I mean hopefully hopefully we'll see a you know a small decrease but I you know I don't think that we're going to see a decrease back to what we what we were seeing a couple of years ago anyway. So commodity commodities are probably going to trend with inflation year-over-year >> uh inflation. And was 20 was 2425 just a a crazy year for equipment, food

107service equipment? I mean, was that just >> We had some larger pieces of equipment that we had to that we [clears throat] had to purchase. Um, you know, and and we're we're looking at this year when we redid castle. We moved some of that old equipment from the old cafeteria up to the new addition and we didn't buy new equipment and we probably in hindsight should have bought new equipment then, but we didn't. And so some of those pieces of equipment we're fixing to have to replace uh there at Castle. And so um just and it depends on the type the piece of equipment that that that goes down as to what we have to what we have to do. So, >> so if you look at estimated ending fund balance June 30th and over

108the last two cycles we've lost an average of 300,000 annually. Right? So, in about a couple years, we're going to have a pretty tough conversation, right? If if everything holds true, >> I think we're going to have to and we have made some changes in uh the summer feeding. Uh we started that last year and and are really ramping up on that this year. And so, that is uh if anything, that's may be kind of our saving grace there is they put a lot of extra work into getting those summer feedings done. And so hopefully the income from that will help stabilize us a little bit. But when it comes to larger pieces of equipment, you know, that's probably going to be the next conversation that uh that has to be had out of the

109with the school board and and administration regarding funding some of those pieces pro maybe out of general purpose school fund or something. But as of right now, um we're we're trying to work and make the things make it work and we any way that we can. And I I think one of those conversations that we probably would have to have would be having to go back to all the all the students paying for lunch and breakfast again. I mean, that would be a a revenue that we could add to >> it would, but then it would reduce your federal revenue. >> Okay. >> Um but in two years, >> comes back to those stinking feds, don't it? In two years, uh, in two years, we're going to have to to, uh, look at that and

110and we have to renew that C application. And so, depending on how that turns out, we'll determine whether it's advantageous for us from a financial standpoint to continue on C or to go back uh, to, you know, free and reduced and and paying. And so, that's a conversation we'll have to have at some point. >> And, and I know my comment was was negative. It's definitely not directed at Miss Savage or anybody in that's working in the cafeteria. >> No, it works with these budgets, but it's it is a a very obvious concern that we'll have to address as a board >> probably in two to three years. >> And and I would venture to guess that if you talk to any of your peers in some of the other counties around us, they are

111already having to have those conversations with with their school nutrition funds and how they fund that. So, It's a challenge. Ma matter of fact, I had one of those conversations just last week with with one of our neighboring counties and they are already in that in that cycle. >> All right, that those are good discussions, good questions, Mr. Markham. Thank you for entertaining that, but let's make sure um uh we do have a motion on the table for approval of that uh for that budget. anything specific to this budget that we need to um have discussion deliberation on. Okay. Um this time then um we will um we'll have have a vote and we'll um have a roll call vote uh starting with Mr. Smith. >> Yes. >> Miss Douglas? >> Yes. >> Mr. McDonald?

112>> Yes. >> Miss Bower? >> Yes. Miss officer. >> Yes. >> Miss Stone. >> Yes. >> So, u motion passes. P. Uh motion passes. Amendment, excuse me. Motion passes uh to approve the uh cafeteria budget fund 143 as presented. So, all right. Thank you. That brings us down to the next item on our agenda. That's uh public comment uh signup sheet was posted uh before the meeting, but we have no one uh wishing to speak that signed up for that. Takes us next item on the agenda. New business. There's no new business on our agenda. Oh, hold on just one second. We may have a question or new business or a comment. >> I want to ask Mr. Markham a question. So, we the school gets 33 pennies still, right? Is it 33 pennies? >>

113That's correct. Yes. >> Okay. How long has it been that way? 33. How long has it stayed? >> Uh, that was new last year. Okay. um during reappraisal it went down and then the county commission took two additional cents uh from from the amount that would have normally been there u but uh 30 so this will be the second year >> for those of us who are ignorant to what a penny is worth >> uh in the county um aspect of it can you clarify that >> sure so for fiscal year uh 27 um we reject a penny to be $98,355.92. Um, so when you see your tax rates $141, that's 141 pennies. Um, and so those get split out. Uh, 33 pennies go to the school system to jump up school fund. Two pennies

114will go to the highway department and the remainder go to the county general fund. And each one of those generate that 983 thou 98,35592. Um, and that is a 5% delinquency rate that we figure in on that. Um, so we figure that at 95% of of what we project to get or of what the gross value of the penny would break be. Thank you, Miss Markhamm. Does that answer your question, Miss Fowler? >> Oh, yes. >> Okay. All right. So, uh, so no new business takes us down next item. Old business there no old business items on our agenda. So, that leads us to chairman's comments. Uh first of all, I'd like to say thank you to fellow board members for just a very uh a very uh thought well uh uh uh just a

115a good board meeting tonight. Well, good discussion. I appreciate you uh uh your thoughts and your comments and the seriousness you take for the district and our budget and also uh our our director. So very much appreciate that and and input. Um and uh the next comment would be that our next board meeting is uh would be on June 11th uh 2026 here at the board of education building. Uh we will have a work session at 5:00 and a regular meeting at 6. So at this time that leads us down the last item on our agenda and that's adjournment. So I entertain a motion for adjournment. Have a motion by Mr. McDonald, second by Miss Fowler. Any discussion? All those >> roll call vote. >> Mr. Young, yes. Motion passes. [snorts] All right. Thank y'all.