Tullahoma board approves 2025–26 budget, multiple policy updates and capital purchases

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. — The Tullahoma City Schools Board of Education on June 17 approved the district’s 2025–26 general purpose budget and a package of policy and program actions, including a playground purchase funded by a state special education preschool grant.

The board approved a $49.8 million general purpose budget for 2025–26; accepted updates to 16 board policies on first and final reading; approved the annual artificial intelligence (AI) program enforcement report; adopted a differentiated pay plan for hard-to-staff positions; and approved a $45,937.80 purchase and installation of preschool playground equipment from Elevate Play Collective funded by the state special education preschool grant.

The budget and related items matter because they set next year’s staffing and program resources for the district. The budget relies primarily on state funding, contains a one-time teacher bonus allocation tied to state legislation, uses reserves to complete a building conversion, and includes recurring pay increases for staff.

The board’s finance presenter, Mr. Jordan, told trustees the proposed 2025–26 budget totals $49,800,000 and is based on the state’s May estimate of funding. He said the state accounts for about 53.5% of the budget, county property taxes about 14%, local option sales tax about 13.7% and the City of Tullahoma allocation about 8.2%. Jordan said the district expects an early July update to the state estimate and plans to return with an amended budget in August if needed.

Jordan said the budget includes $692,000 from the state, described in the presentation as funding earmarked for a one-time $2,000 teacher bonus tied to the Tennessee Education Freedom Act. The budget also projects using about $3.4 million of district reserves to finish remodel and improvements on the Farrah Building, which the board approved in May as the district’s new early childhood center.

The proposed budget includes recurring compensation changes: a 2% cost-of-living adjustment to the salary schedules and step increases. Jordan said the average pay increase for employees will be about 3.5% year over year.

On the playground purchase, Dr. Wendy Wilkerson recommended using state special education preschool grant funds to buy and install four pieces of age-appropriate equipment for the early childhood center. The vendor quote from Elevate Play Collective through the cooperative contract totals $25,404.80 for equipment and $20,533 for installation and mulch. Wilkerson and Jordan said the funding needed to be allocated by June 30 to preserve the grant.

Dr. Stevens, the district’s director of schools, presented the annual artificial intelligence program enforcement report required under board policy 4214 and recommended board approval. Stevens said the district currently restricts generative AI use to teachers and will allow student use at the high school beginning in the second semester under a controlled rollout; “Magic School” was identified in the report as the primary generative AI program to be used by staff.

On differentiated pay, Jordan said the district identified 32 positions meeting criteria for differentiated pay for 2025–26; 29 of those are in state-identified hard-to-staff areas, and 20 of the hard-to-staff positions are special-education related (including speech-language pathologists and HMI teachers). The board approved the differentiated pay plan as presented.

Several motions passed with a single recurring voiced opposition recorded in the transcript as "Miss Diddham." The meeting’s minutes show motions were routinely moved and seconded by board members Gigi Robinson, Teresa Lawson, Rosie Graham, Andy Witt and Brock Compton. Where the transcript records an opposition, the article notes that named opposition rather than assigning a numerical tally.

Votes at a glance (actions approved): • Agenda as presented — motion by Andy Witt, second by Teresa Lawson; outcome: approved (recorded opposition: Miss Diddham). • Consent agenda — motion by Gigi Robinson, second by Rosie Graham; outcome: approved (recorded opposition noted in the transcript). • Updates to policies 1.1021; 1.901; 2.403; 3.202; 3.204; 4.301; 4.406; 4.601; 5.1; 5.119; 5.305; 5.701; 6.207; 6.303; 6.411; 6.6 — motion by Teresa Lawson, second by Andy Witt; outcome: approved on first and final reading (recorded opposition: Miss Diddham). • 2025–26 general purpose budget, $49,800,000 — motion by Rosie Graham, second by Gigi Robinson; outcome: approved (recorded opposition: Miss Diddham). The budget will be amended in August if the state’s final funding estimate differs from the May estimate. • 2025–26 artificial intelligence program enforcement report (board policy 4214) — motion by Andy Witt, second by Teresa Lawson; outcome: approved (recorded opposition: Miss Diddham). Stevens said the report will also be provided to the Tennessee Department of Education as required. • Differentiated pay plan for 2025–26 (32 positions identified; 29 hard-to-staff, 20 special-education related) — motion by Gigi Robinson, second by Rosie Graham; outcome: approved (recorded opposition: Miss Diddham). • Board events calendar and annual agenda-by-month items for 2025–26 — motions moved and seconded by board members; outcomes: approved (recorded opposition at roll call noted in transcript). • Elevate Play Collective quote for preschool playground equipment, total $45,937.80, funded by state special education preschool grant — motion by Teresa Lawson, second by Andy Witt; outcome: approved (recorded opposition: Miss Diddham).

Discussion-only items and forward steps included the finance committee’s ongoing work on an amended budget after the state’s final estimate, a plan to distribute the one-time state teacher bonus when funds arrive in July for qualifying staff, and scheduling/installation timelines for the Farrah Building improvements and the playground installation (installation expected late summer or fall when the vendor’s schedule allows).

What’s next: the board does not have a regular meeting in July; the district will present any amended 2024–25 budget items and return with updates at the August meeting if needed.