Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hamblen County schools win $918,152.95 budget amendment to add staff and shift CTE funds
Summary
The legislative body approved a $918,152.95 budget amendment for the Hamblen County Department of Education to add English-as-a-second-language teachers and staff supports, apply insurance proceeds, and redirect CTE funds to classroom expansion.
The Finance Committee on Jan. 13 approved Hamblen County Department of Education Budget Amendment No. 5, an increase of $918,152.95 presented by Jerry Ladd, department supervisor of business.
Ladd told the committee the amendment is divided into several purposes: to add two English-as-a-second-language (ESL) teachers to meet state-required staffing levels; to add two teacher assistants and a contracted Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) to address behavioral needs; to record insurance proceeds for roof repairs (Russellville) and stolen/damaged laptops at West High School; and to redirect previously planned Career and Technical Education (CTE) funds—originally for a career-exploration trailer—toward a classroom expansion at West High School.
Ladd stated there are "20 15 kids" in ESL (as read in the meeting) and estimated ESL students account for about 20% of enrollment; he said the district had added roughly seven to 10 new ESL students in January. Ladd also noted that TISA (the Tennessee funding formula referenced in the meeting) is a year behind and that the district expects those positions to be included in next year’s TISA calculations.
Motion and outcome A motion to approve the budget amendment received a first and second in committee and passed by voice vote. Committee members asked for clarification on service details, the planned classroom expansion (moving one wall at West High to add four CTE classes) and funding sources; Ladd said the district had partnered with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on a CTE arrangement and that the trailer purchase was no longer needed due to access to a similar resource.
Why it matters: The amendment funds additional instructional and behavioral-support staff and redirects CTE dollars to build classroom capacity, changes that county officials said are needed to respond to rising ESL enrollment and instructional demand.
Ending: The approved amendment will be incorporated into the district’s FY budget; Ladd and committee members said staff will monitor enrollments and TISA funding next year.
