Cleveland school board adopts $71.13 million budget, approves bus-patrol contract and teacher bonuses

The Cleveland City Schools Board of Education on Tuesday adopted a $71,130,225 general fund budget for fiscal 2025–26, approved a contract to launch a bus‑patrol citation program starting this fall, and voted to submit a resolution to the state to receive one‑time teacher bonuses under the Education Freedom Act of 2025.

The budget vote came after a presentation by Director of Schools Dr. Elliott, who described the district's four main funds, reviewed revenue assumptions and state funding estimates, and outlined priorities the board asked staff to emphasize: pay raises, classroom/support growth positions and additional cleaning/contract increases. "These are the priorities for our budget," Dr. Elliott said, adding that planned raises total $2,079,864; planned classroom and support growth positions total $569,340; and an increase to cover cleaning services was estimated at $714,263.

Board members voted unanimously to approve the budget. Miss Wheeler read the roll call: Matt Coleman, Andy Lay, Peggy Pesterfield, Jody Riggins, Nate Tucker and Renee Diamond all recorded "Yes." Dr. Elliott described the proposed general fund total as $71,130,225 and said the proposal includes one‑time bonuses for employees who are not eligible for the state bonus program (a $500 one‑time bonus for classified and administrative staff in the plan presented).

In a separate but related action, the board approved a resolution to participate in section 4 of the Education Freedom Act of 2025 so the district can receive and distribute the state’s one‑time bonuses of not less than $2,000 for eligible K–12 teachers and counselors. Dr. Elliott told the board the district must adopt the resolution at a board meeting and submit it to the state before June 1. The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution; board members agreed Dr. Elliott will sign and submit it following the vote.

The board also approved a contract to implement a bus‑patrol program that uses cameras and contracted review to cite motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses. Facilities committee members and staff described the plan to start with 10 buses (seven on regular routes plus three reserved to rotate into problem routes), an estimated gross revenue of about $112,500 per year and a net revenue estimate of about $56,250 after paying the vendor's fees. The vendor charges a monthly fee per bus (presented in the meeting as a per‑bus monthly fee) and $65 per citation; the board recorded unanimous support to move the contract to the city council for approval and start the program in the fall, pending city approvals. The board discussed an exit schedule in the contract (a cancellation fee scale in year 1 through 5) and legal review of contract language by the district attorney; counsel had recommended changes to arbitration and venue that the vendor accepted.

Other formal actions approved by unanimous vote included: - Consent agenda approval (routine items cleared as presented). - Tenure approvals for a list of certificated employees who met statutory requirements; the board then recognized the newly tenured teachers in a public spotlight. - Facilities measures recommended by the Facilities Committee: permitting adjacent property owners to fill a storm drain at Candies Creek Cherokee Elementary (contingent on city‑approved stormwater plans); approval of a press box between softball and baseball fields at Cleveland Middle School funded from local CMS school funds; and up to $100,000 for renovating a room and shower area off the volleyball gym at Cleveland High School to meet special education needs. - First reading and approval (address‑change only) of policy 6.3041 to change an address on school policy materials from Mouse Creek Road to Raider Drive (first reading accepted by board vote).

The board recorded roll‑call votes for each item; Miss Wheeler conducted the roll calls and confirmed unanimous "Yes" votes on the motions listed above.