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Sumner County committee approves state-funded Summer Scholars budget and transportation amendments
Summary
The Sumner County Education Committee unanimously approved two budget amendments to accept and allocate state funds for the Summer Scholars program and related transportation after the district received late-arriving state dollars.
The Sumner County Education Committee on May 19 unanimously approved two budget amendments to accept and allocate state funds for the district’s Summer Scholars program and for Summer Scholars transportation.
Dr. Langford, director of schools, told the committee the funding is provided by the state and is required by state law for pre-K through eighth grade. “We are required by law to conduct [Summer Scholars], and that goes pre k through eighth grade that’s required by law,” Dr. Langford said, adding the district also staffs summer programs with nurses, counselors, reading interventionists and special education services.
The program serves about 2,100 students with roughly 231 teachers across nine sites, Dr. Langford said. He told the committee the state money arrived late this year — on May 2 — which forced the district to convene a special-call meeting the previous week to begin steps to pay staff in June. “It’s all state money,” he said, noting high-school summer classes are handled separately with the district’s general-purpose dollars.
Committee discussion confirmed the money comes from a mixture of state funding sources, including TANF and other state allocations, and does not require local matching funds. Commissioner Parker asked whether any local match was required; Dr. Langford answered that the funding is provided by the state. The committee approved the two amendments — one for program funding and one for transportation — by voice vote; members responded “aye,” and the chair declared the motion unanimous.
The amendments will allow district staff to allocate and pay for Summer Scholars programming and student transportation this summer, including hiring and paying teachers and support staff at rates set in state law. Dr. Langford said the district has followed up with emailed drone footage and facility status reports to committee members detailing readiness at summer program sites.
The committee did not request additional local funding for the program; members discussed scheduling upcoming budget hearings but did not change the substance of the Summer Scholars approvals.
The committee adjourned following the vote.
