Board narrows master-teacher add-on units to two stabilization schools amid budget constraints

The Bay County School Board on July 22 approved an amendment to its earlier action on master‑teacher add‑on units, limiting the add‑on units to Cedar Grove Elementary and Oscar Patterson Academy only. Each school will have three master‑teacher units during its stabilization year; the previously discussed add‑on units for several other schools were removed from the action.

Superintendent McQueen said the decision reflects fiscal constraints and mixed fidelity of implementation across schools. He noted the district’s large operating budget and the need to prioritize supports where data shows the most benefit. "Given where we are in the significant budget constraints ... it's my recommendation that we amend the action and only have the master teachers located at both Cedar Grove and at Oscar Patterson," McQueen said.

Board members acknowledged the program's benefits in schools that implemented it with fidelity and asked for the district to reconsider adding units in the future as budget clarity improves. The motion to approve the amendment was made by Mr. Register and seconded by Mr. Moore; the roll-call vote recorded all five board members in favor.

Presenters said Oscar Patterson moved from an F to a B and Cedar Grove moved from a D to a C in recent school grades; the master-teacher support was cited as one contributing intervention in turnaround and stabilization work. Staff said the board could revisit additional master‑teacher units when fiscal conditions permit.