Board approves budget amendments including state teacher bonuses and $786,035.83 innovative school model grant

The Haywood County Board of Education approved general fund budget amendments and federal project fund amendments during the meeting.

On the general school purpose fund, staff reported a $786,035.83 innovative school model grant that was distributed across multiple departments and a state school improvement grant carryforward of $387,171.87. Staff also reported teacher bonus payments that were paid out in late July: teachers received a gross bonus of $2,000 and the first distribution covered 197 qualifying teachers; the total for those bonuses and associated benefits was reported on the record as $442,006.47.

Other adjustments included small transfers within grants and subfunds noted in the attachments (for example, moving funds between state retirement and medical expense in a TRA subfund and reclassifying career and tech salary line items into contracted services). On the federal project fund side, staff reported a new grant of approximately $13,006 and several smaller adjustments: CTE Perkins received an additional $11,152.32; Title II moved $2,001.20 between line items; Title III showed an increase of $123.61; and Title V moved $2,000 into instructor supplies and materials. Staff said these amendments did not require use of fund balance.

A motion to accept the general fund and federal project fund amendments was made and seconded; the chair announced the motion carried after an aye vote. The transcript references attachments detailing line-item moves but the meeting discussion did not include the full attachment text to the public record beyond the amounts summarized by staff.

Board members reiterated that some of the amendments reflected state timing for funding receipts and that the teacher bonus initiative originated from state-provided funds.