Board approves short-term extra hours for ESE teachers at one elementary school after debate over equity and staffing

The Taylor County School Board on Feb. (date not specified) approved a request to pay short-term extra hours for four ESE teachers at one elementary school after a heated discussion about staffing equity and budget priorities.

Board Member Deidra Donnell pressed administrators for detail before the vote, saying she had repeatedly raised concerns about recurring extra-hours requests since the 2023–24 school term and asking why this school’s approach differed from other schools in the district. “I asked what other solutions could have been in place. I just don’t want nothing being done here, and then I got other staff at other schools saying, ‘hey, I’m making it, but I’m not getting extra hours,’” Donnell said.

District staff said the extra hours were requested because two resource teachers had been moved back into full-time classroom roles to meet enrollment and coverage needs, leaving ESE service minutes to be provided by remaining staff. A staff member described that several teachers submitted between 12 and 13 extra hours for the first semester alone and that two previously funded positions remain vacant, producing salary savings. The staff explanation noted that the extra hours request covered less than one month of salary for the four teachers and estimated the cost at roughly $3,500 for the period cited, compared with approximately $100,000 in salaries for two positions the district had cut.

Board Member Carrie (recorded on the meeting as voicing opposition) cast the lone negative vote and asked that the record reflect concern the arrangement had not been applied “across the board” and might conflict with the union contract. “I’m concerned that it’s not been done across the board. And I don’t want it to be a position where we’re given an opportunity for a number of employees and it’s not been spread across the board because this does not align to the union contract,” she said.

Superintendent Reggie Wentworth and the district’s staffing specialists explained the site-level staffing decisions reflected year-to-date enrollment and allocation constraints and that administrators had previously been instructed not to post or fill certain positions under earlier guidance. Staff said some schools are using aides and other models to meet ESE minutes while this particular school temporarily reassigned certified resource teachers to classrooms because of local circumstances.

The board approved the personnel recommendation (item 12.01, number 19) after a motion by Board Member Jenny Matthews, seconded by Board Member Carlton; the motion passed with one recorded opposition and otherwise unanimous support. The board and staff stated the extra hours request covered a short period and that staffing plans for the next school year would be informed by enrollment numbers and the district’s annual staffing plan.

The vote followed a public comment from parent Christie Goodman, who urged board members to attend student celebrations and to prioritize support for children and community engagement. “Our children deserve to be celebrated for their hard work,” Goodman said during public comment.

Board members said they would continue to monitor staffing and budget implications as the district finalizes staffing plans for the coming year and as federal/state funding and FTE figures are confirmed.

Ending: The district recorded the approval as an affirmative board decision with one recorded dissent; staff said the arrangement was a short-term response tied to site-level staffing constraints and that next year’s staffing plan would be adjusted based on enrollment.