Board approves teacher bonus, lighting design, bleacher repairs; sets director salary — votes at a glance

The Coffee County Board of Education voted on a series of budget, facilities and personnel items at its March meeting, approving acceptance of state teacher payments, a $42,000 stadium lighting design package, bleacher repairs, a $5-a-day after-school program, and setting the incoming director’s salary. Several other items, including a paving contract and a proposed employee daycare program, did not pass.

Why it matters: The votes affect district finances, facility projects and the new superintendent candidate pool. A mix of one-time and recurring budget moves, plus a contested negotiation over the director pay range, were the principal fiscal and policy decisions the board took.

Most important votes and outcomes - Consent agenda: approved, 9–0. (Approved minutes and routine consent items.) - Teacher bonus resolution (state “Freedom Act” funds): approved, 9–0. The board agreed to accept the one‑time state payments for staff classified as teachers (not administrators) and to administer disbursement according to state reporting. The board also included a statement of disapproval of the law while accepting the money. - Director salary: approved, 6–3. The board set an initial director salary of $165,000 plus a $2,500 in‑county travel allowance and up to $10,000 in annual performance bonuses divided into four $2,500 increments. - Wolf (stadium) lighting: approved, 9–0. The board authorized $42,000 for engineering and construction drawings to support Musco lighting bids and code/permit documents; the board later would bring bid and construction decisions back for approval. - Bleacher modifications: approved, 9–0. The board approved a modifications bid (repair/replace planks/handrails) for $187,065.42 with plank replacement priced at $26.74 per linear foot for any needed planks. - Paving/parking lot bid: failed. The low bid for high‑school paving did not pass after questions about specification details and base work; the board asked staff to revisit scope and specs before rebidding. - After‑school (Excellence/ESP) program: approved, 9–0. The board approved a district after‑school program for 2025–26 charging families $5 per day; the program will be subsidized with approximately $120,269 of fund‑balance support in the rollout estimate. - Bonnaroo lease (facility use): approved, 8–0. The board renewed the short‑term lease for site use and will receive $12,000 in the budget year from the event operator. - Multiple budget amendments: approved (various votes recorded). Staff reported internal transfers and appropriation adjustments that do not affect fund balance for interim director pay, vacation payouts and line‑item corrections.

What failed or stalled - Proposed employee daycare program: a motion to place discussion/approval on the floor failed for lack of a second and the item died; staff and the board indicated further work or a future reintroduction would be necessary. - Paving contract: board members raised questions about subgrade, binder and contaminated backfill on the worksite; the motion to award failed and staff will revise scope and rebid.

Next steps: Staff will return budget amendment language where required, rework the paving specs and return vendor bids for bleacher construction oversight and stadium lighting construction when funding and bid documents are ready.

Quotes “Based on what I understand, the money will come in and it’ll be a flow‑through from our budget into the teachers that are recognized as being able to get this money,” Doctor Powell told the board during the teacher bonus discussion.

Ending note Board members said they want clearer bid specifications for future infrastructure work and asked staff to return with revised documents so the district spends capital funds on a durable solution.