The Hamilton County Board of Education approved a package of district personnel, budget and capital actions during its meeting, including a district differentiated pay plan, state-funded teacher bonus disbursement plan, a revised cheer program fee at Tanner Academy, and multiple capital and architect contracts.

The board voted to adopt a district differentiated pay plan (filed as “25.6” in the meeting materials). Board members discussed adding custodial or other staff at hard-to-staff schools and agreed to return with a revision in August that could be made retroactive to July 1 if approved. The motion carried on a roll-call vote.

The board approved acceptance and distribution plans for state teacher bonus funds. Staff said the state-approved list had been accepted and that funds will be paid on two dates: an initial payment scheduled for Aug. 8 and a district-funded matching payment scheduled for Sept. 19. Board members asked that the district communicate eligibility and timing to staff.

The board approved a revised school fee for the Tanner Academy cheer program. During brief discussion a board member said the fee in the packet increased from about $500 to $1,900 and expressed concern about whether schools had hardship processes for families. The board voted to approve the revised fee.

Capital and program approvals carried as well. The board approved the East Side turf/park playground project (a partnership referenced with Trust Republic Land), an amended in-school-age homeless initiative, bond-funded capital projects and fiscal year 2026 budget amendments, and the Brainerd High School renovation including architect selections. The board also approved several architect contracts listed in the packet, including a Gateway architect contract and other firm agreements presented for routine procurement.

Most items passed with roll-call votes recorded on the meeting record. Several board members thanked staff and community partners on the East Side project and on capital planning. Where board members requested follow-up (for example, adding classifications to the differentiated-pay plan), staff committed to return with amendments in August.

Votes at a glance (items approved):
- Agenda approval (with additions) — approved on roll call.
- Consent agenda — approved on roll call.
- District differentiated pay plan (25.6) — motion carried; staff to return in August with a revision to add positions as needed and to consider retroactive pay to July 1.
- Revised Tanner Academy cheer fee (packet shows increase from about $500 to about $1,900) — approved on roll call; board asked schools to address hardship exemptions.
- State-funded teacher bonus plan (timing: Aug. 8 and Sept. 19) — approved on roll call; state funds approved but not yet released to the district at the time of the meeting.
- East Side turf/playground agreement (community park access; partnership with Trust Republic Land noted) — approved on roll call.
- In-school-age homeless initiative (as amended) — approved on roll call.
- Bond-funded capital projects and FY26 budget amendments — approved on roll call.
- Brainerd High School renovation and architect selection — approved on roll call.
- Multiple architect contracts (including Gateway contract and other architect agreements shown in the packet) — approved on roll call.

Board members asked staff to provide more detail where needed (for example, how the differentiated-pay plan will treat specific positions and how hardship cases for fees will be handled). Staff committed to follow-up reports or revised motions in the August meeting packet.

Ending: The board completed the list of approvals and moved on to separate, more-discussed items including a charter school amended-application recommendation and board matters on coaching pay and a proposed cell-phone policy.