School board member warns city of $500,000–$600,000 shortfall if bonuses extended to nonteaching staff

Charlie Taylor, a member of the Bristol Tennessee Board of Education, told the City Council on March 4 that the school system is facing budget uncertainty tied to a state proposal to give teachers a $2,000 bonus.

Taylor said the board is concerned about morale if only certified teachers receive the payment and is considering extending a similar bonus to noncertified staff, including custodial, cafeteria and maintenance employees. “It is a serious morale issue to give our teachers a $2,000 bonus, and then leave all of our support staff from maintenance . . . to our cafeteria workers, to our janitorial staff,” Taylor said.

The board estimates the cost to extend the bonus to all staff could be roughly $500,000–$600,000 and said the expense would be unbudgeted…