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Anderson 5 board debates $1.45M pay proposal for teaching assistants; schedules special meeting to finalize budget
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Kelly and budget staff told trustees sales tax and fund‑balance trends are stable while a proposed $20/hour starting wage for teaching assistants would cost about $1.45 million; trustees set a special meeting to finalize the budget.
Superintendent Dr. Kelly and district finance staff presented the district's monthly financial statements and a proposed budget that would raise the starting pay for teaching assistants and add additional staff if approved.
Dr. Kelly said sales-tax receipts for the district for the month were $1,149,000, of which $229,000 was earmarked for property tax relief and $919,000 for bond payments or future capital projects. She also reported a year-to-date fund balance of about $38,400,000 compared with $41,800,000 the previous year and described the district as "in good financial shape" while noting year-to-year fluctuations tied to timing of collections and the winding down of ESSER funds.
Staff and several trustees discussed a proposal to raise the district's teaching-assistant starting wage to $20 an hour. Amy Weber, district staff member who presented budget options, said the cost to move teaching assistants to a $20 starting wage would be $1,450,000. Weber also presented a package of changes that, as shown in the materials, would leave the board about $1,250,000 short of a balanced budget without additional revenue or offsets.
Trustees debated how to cover the shortfall. Weber explained the board could raise up to 8 mills under county legislation (the presentation noted 8 mills would generate about $2,080,000) or make program and hiring changes. Trustees proposed alternatives including phasing the pay increase over two years, reducing the number of new aides proposed, or swapping some proposed aides for certified interventionist teachers at middle and high schools.
Board member Bradshaw recommended phasing changes: "we can do the same thing with our teaching assistants, and that would pretty much balance our budget, if I'm correct," and suggested cutting the proposed new assistants in half while moving toward the $20 goal over two years. Dr. Kelly said her plan prioritized certified interventionists for middle and high schools rather than adding 25 new teaching assistants at the elementary level.
Trustees expressed concern that some proposed hires rely on federal Title I funds that may not be permanent. As one trustee noted, adding personnel funded by a fixed federal pot can create recurring local obligations if federal dollars decline. Several trustees urged caution and recommended a salary study or pausing additional hires until federal funding clarity is available.
To complete the budgeting timeline, trustees voted to schedule a Committee of the Whole meeting followed immediately by a special called board meeting the week before the regular May meeting. The committee meeting and special call were set for the Thursday prior to the May board meeting (committee starting at 6:00 p.m.), so the administration can present refined options and the board can act in time for county filing and public‑hearing notices.
The board also approved the consent agenda (minutes from March 18 and April 17 and other routine items) by unanimous voice vote earlier in the meeting.
