[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6235525,"mediaKeyId","3397209-4194332772c65e716fde848f0190fe8b","parentId",3397209,"title","Board approves year-end budget corrections and adopts 2025'26 pay charts after heated debate","audioSeconds",3708,"startMs",4294000,"endMs",8002000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397209-4194332772c65e716fde848f0190fe8b&start=4294&end=8002","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397209-4194332772c65e716fde848f0190fe8b/thumbnail_4294000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235525/Tennessee/Board-approves-year-end-budget-corrections-and-adopts-202526-pay-charts-after-heated-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235525-437b087315245a81858e72a594d74408/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413651&Signature=kjTVheX6sCuMxZ8Aq2qsS5mLymL8xW1lYEJr4Ik8rPX5rJc61Z089ID-GuyLCBLJ1qGD4Zi6OB-0zWb9FybnJbW6HOrpbIMmh3vqC~1maGju5baaM9VTlPgZUWFJ-ZHaYTnXFuGro9ZG0hYOVkqq4fuMeLPuE3Oqq5YapslXuwE9g1JVu6wTWM9iF5pjuPTvswrOejsgcv48OFl4wv9myUongerXWu1fUUEhziVbuK3WWCUZPa1uO4N~xCQw~GX19Esm0K3wL~8b8FUx3TTzxgD2PPGFdHImKHryXscg7fdiMGME3rUU2lVDQ2xRtgEMftqsT3YTU1A-qonULxvvVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Williamson County Schools","date","2025-05-20T09:17:05.58Z","article","The Williamson County Board of Education on May 19 approved multiple end-of-year budget adjustments and adopted the district's 2025'26 pay charts after a lengthy debate over how to distribute raises and supplemental pay.

Why it matters: The board's votes finalize budget corrections and a proposed employee pay structure that district leaders say is intended to address market conditions for teachers and supplements; the pay-chart adoption followed a failed amendment and reflected tradeoffs the board discussed publicly.

Budget approvals: Superintendent Jason Golden presented several routine year-end and project-related budget amendments. Recorded votes (all 12-0 unless otherwise noted) included:
- Custodial supervision: General Purpose School Fund resolution, $20,000 (approved 12-0).
- Trustee commission: General Purpose School Fund resolution, $300,000 (approved 12-0).
- ESCO energy savings payment: General Purpose School Fund resolution, $1,163,173.88 (approved 12-0). Golden described this as the annual payment for an energy-savings contract that financed capital improvements.
- Additional insurance expenses: $700,000 (approved 12-0) to cover liability/excess risk and workers' compensation actuals.
- Additional textbook expenses: $900,000 (approved 12-0) to correct an earlier underestimate for science textbooks.
- Student support services additional expenses: $150,000 (approved 12-0) to cover translation services and mileage after shifting some costs from private-contract lines.
- Creekside Elementary traffic signal: Education Capital Projects Fund intragroup transfer, $200,000 (approved 12-0); staff said contingency balances remain in rural and general debt accounts.

Pay charts and debate: The board then considered the 2025'26 pay charts. Golden said the district proposed roughly $16 million for pay increases but faces a projected revenue gap of about $12 million and that the administration prioritized teacher pay and supplements within available funds. Golden also noted the district met the state's $50,000 minimum teacher salary requirement ahead of the state deadline.

Board member Dr. Johnson proposed an amendment that would reallocate about $600,000 from positions paid $100,000 or more to provide two additional system closed days for 10- and 11-month classified staff and then distribute any remaining funds back to higher-paid positions. The amendment was debated at length; board members raised concerns about taking funds from administrators and other higher-paid staff, the potential message to leadership, and procedural questions about bringing surprise amendments at the meeting. The amendment failed on a recorded vote, 3 yes, 8 no, 1 abstain.

A separate motion to defer adoption until the next meeting failed for lack of a second. The board then approved the full 2025'26 pay charts as presented by a recorded vote of 10 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain.

Other votes and notes: The board approved the PECCA memorandum of understanding and several policies and policy readings during the meeting (votes recorded in meeting minutes). Golden and staff noted some proposed supplement increases are contingent on county commission budget approval scheduled for June 20.

What's next: With pay charts adopted, staff will finalize payroll setups and later present any required budget amendments to the county commission for necessary funding. Board members indicated they may revisit supplements or classified-staff pay if additional revenue becomes available or after further analysis.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Williamson County Board of Education Meeting - May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Williamson County Board of Education approved several end-of-year budget amendments, including a $1.16 million ESCO payment and other adjustments, and adopted the 2025'26 pay charts after a contentious discussion and a failed amendment to reallocate funds to lower-paid classified staff.","taxTitle","Williamson County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",17219,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235529,"Parents and students call for fairer middle-school arts stipends",948,2064000,3012000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397209-4194332772c65e716fde848f0190fe8b&start=2064&end=3012","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397209-4194332772c65e716fde848f0190fe8b/thumbnail_2064000.jpg","/articles/6235529/Tennessee/Parents-and-students-call-for-fairer-middle-school-arts-stipends","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235529-6210ad6ff617937648fda552542fe36a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413651&Signature=QArGmuMIGn~q0P5xdxUGKHEVHwngp3~GVw0P7o8nONjnhSOJMxbIbZkmbZyWXBUnCwZceAloVy2akjU0v57nkrONtApjVrf~dwKT3-YY2UtoGAfYbVZ0fbdhvqUYWP9VcSfzBO8UEHGCnqcFzYLspUuILy25d9WGbLfxNhInJvYYpEzk0p0AWKq5O-FwOb9ZfmbvTg7QQbjD7kt-UmyPL87IWlHgxrqdgnzt61nOkUWF6UOBwUcleCxKl3kWtWHLmO4Bnl0RJbqjL7C9cJHgonPDFmuj9ysCJZ-0AuXAM7QP~shDxsdZtqBBdMMuKZCc9-PiXn-wf8FaNqYwM294nA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents and a student urged the Williamson County Board of Education on May 19 to change how middle-school arts stipends are calculated so theater, orchestra and other arts teachers receive pay that more closely reflects out-of-class hours and work intensity.

Why it matters: Stipends compensate teachers for duties beyond classroom instruction. Speakers argued current stipend percentages undervalue some arts instructors, which they said affects recruitment and fairness.

At public comment, Grama (Grey) Rose praised a recent move to base middle-school arts stipends on a percentage rather than set amounts but said a proposed budget currently would give a theater teacher a 7% stipend while the band teacher would receive 10% despite the theater teacher's heavier after-school workload. Rose said, \"Simply put, my theater teacher is not a carton of eggs,\" and described months of rehearsals, set building and weekend work that make theater production like a second job. The sixth-grade speaker M H (MH) Hill told the board that orchestra, band and choir teachers \"should be paid more for all they do\" and urged parity with sports and band coaches for fine-arts coaches.

No board action was taken on stipends at the meeting. Several board members and staff acknowledged the issue during the superintendent's report and public comment but did not advance a policy or budget amendment at that time.

What's next: Speakers asked the board to gather accurate data on hours worked and consider an addendum to the budget or a future policy change to set a single percentage for all middle-school art stipends.

","Speakers at the Williamson County Board of Education meeting urged the district to equalize middle-school arts stipends, saying theater and other arts teachers work longer hours than some stipend recipients and should receive comparable percentages.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235534,"Parents urge board to allow homeschooled students in marching band; district staff to review law",2073,2197000,4270000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397209-4194332772c65e716fde848f0190fe8b&start=2197&end=4270","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397209-4194332772c65e716fde848f0190fe8b/thumbnail_2197000.jpg","/articles/6235534/Tennessee/Parents-urge-board-to-allow-homeschooled-students-in-marching-band-district-staff-to-review-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235534-970565d2c7b3c3830987f28aa7579e0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413651&Signature=or752CBDSq7005jNWAWl3TmRASTxwA5xfCvJZf~~bvMXgg3EmYjJgSh6--IncuyTuXSFdSQTQHK1NOJ8RfOv0aMFDuhrPT8zlalkbS0nUZ5rRXgUfIeow4BoIKDlo2kThwckCCJl~QgcmEjWmJVAcBgfqjG-wtCEy8C8y6lrWcmQ4cfZJXePSTKoJUSwbeknNhBD-65KGgphvLlumsCIIIREWTnkfXEUAZ03nCnKaIRSN-j-FUFU6R1GowbvuCwKoq9m4~~tHCqFceVD2qSZdlskcj60c8I7u1lg9xzCudlAewzLDugFGFbHrpHeNMy1-OaKMD7yPpZKuWU7-vsg7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A group of parents and band supporters asked the Williamson County Board of Education on May 19 to allow homeschooled students to join Page High School's marching band and color guard, arguing the activities meet Tennessee's definition of interscholastic athletic competition and noting district band staff support the students' participation.

Why it matters: If the board or staff concludes the activity qualifies under state law, homeschooled students could gain access to a wide set of extracurricular opportunities they otherwise cannot easily pursue, including competitive events the district treats as athletic for credit.

At public comment, Serena DeGrino, a parent, said, \"The Tennessee code clearly states that homeschooled students shall be permitted to participate in interscholastic athletic competition at their zone school,\" and argued marching band and color guard fit that description because they compete against other schools and receive trophies. Tammy McAllister, another parent, described color guard as \"a performance that involves a group of athletic dancers who use equipment and choreography to visually interpret music,\" and noted color guard also competes in a winter season (winter guard). Rochelle Schoenborn, speaking for the Greenough family, cited \"Tennessee code 49 6 3 0 5 0 subsection e 1 b\" and described Page's band as a competitive program with multiweek practices, summer camps and out-of-school competitions. Kristen Anderson, a Page parent, added that marching band and color guard are physically demanding and that the district already allows marching participation to satisfy a physical-education credit.

Board response was procedural and cautious. Superintendent Jason Golden summarized the state statutory structure and said the district has historically categorized band and related activities under its arts programs rather than as interscholastic athletics. He noted the district had received recent emails from a nonprofit that included an outside attorney and said, \"Miss Osbruch is having some conversations with that attorney related to the Tennessee law.\" Dana Osbruch, identified in discussion as district legal counsel, reminded the board that a federal 2020 law requires public high schools to allow homeschooled students to attend JROTC during the school day and evening and said the state law on interscholastic athletics is silent in some areas; she said staff would continue to review the applicable statutes and guidance.

No formal policy change or vote occurred. Board members and staff said the district currently has no board policy specifically permitting or denying homeschool participation in marching band or color guard. Board member comments indicated the next steps are staff legal review and, if appropriate, placing the matter on a policy committee agenda for formal consideration.

What's next: Staff indicated they will consult counsel and the state guidance, and the board suggested the matter could be discussed at a future policy committee meeting before any formal change is adopted.

","Parents of homeschooled students told the Williamson County Board of Education that Tennessee law and local practice support allowing homeschooled students to participate in Page High School's competitive marching band and color guard. Board and staff said no district policy exists and legal and policy review will follow.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves year-end budget corrections and adopts 2025'26 pay charts after heated debate

Parents and students call for fairer middle-school arts stipends

Parents urge board to allow homeschooled students in marching band; district staff to review law