Russell County School Board approves one-time employee bonuses, approves personnel items; tables administrative-leave action

The Russell County School Board approved a one-time bonus to be paid in May 2025: $1,000 for full-time employees and $500 for part-time employees, with cafeteria staff excluded from this disbursement because of earlier food-service funding, board members said.

The bonus motion was made and seconded during the board's action-item portion and approved by voice vote. "I'll make that motion," said Mr. Eaton when the proposal was offered; the motion was seconded and the chair called for a voice vote. The board voted in favor.

Following the bonus vote, the board considered a personnel action described in the agenda as "request approval that employee A be placed on paid administrative leave until further review or appeal." A board member moved to table that item and a second followed; the motion to table carried on a voice vote and the leave request was not acted on.

The board also moved other routine business items by voice vote: approval of minutes from prior meetings, acceptance of resignations and retirements, and approval of a list of new hires and transfers presented at the meeting. On resignations and retirements the board approved the list by motion and voice vote. On new personnel, the board approved hires and transfers; one board member stated they would abstain from a specific vote.

On finance items, the board approved paying the bills listed at the meeting by voice vote after a motion to do so.

What this means: The approved one-time bonuses will be paid in May 2025 and the cafeteria staff will not receive the district-paid bonus because their compensation had been addressed through food-service funds. The administrative-leave request was deferred by tabling; the board did not make a determination on paid leave during the meeting.

Sources: Board discussion and action items as recorded during the meeting's action section and personnel items.