Board considers adding Juneteenth as a paid district holiday; staff estimate ~$62,000 annual cost for 12-month employees
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Summary
Board members and a public speaker urged the district to recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday. Staff said adopting the holiday would affect 12-month employees and estimated roughly $62,000 in annual cost for payroll and benefits for those employees.
During the Maury County Board of Education work session, board members discussed adding Juneteenth to the district—s list of paid holidays. The item was presented as an amendment to Policy 5310, and the board heard public comment urging the change.
A member of the public, Hernandez Paco Havard, identified himself as a former president of the Maury County NAACP and asked the board to recognize Juneteenth, saying it would "mean so much to so many people of Maury County" and noting it is recognized at federal, state and some local levels.
Board members discussed consistency with state and federal observances and whether the district should be selective in adding holidays. Board member Lisa Brown said she researched state codes and noted that Columbus Day is substituted by the Friday after Thanksgiving under Tennessee provisions. Several board members said surrounding counties (Williamson, Marshall, Lawrence, Davidson) already recognize Juneteenth.
District staff and payroll personnel provided an estimated cost: staff said recognizing the day as a paid holiday for 12-month employees would cost about $62,000 when including employer payroll taxes and retirement contributions; staff explained the estimate depends on which hourly employees work that day and on the district—s pay-period calculations. Staff said summer school schedules would not be materially disrupted in most years because summer sessions are typically scheduled to finish in June; if Juneteenth fell on a weekday during summer school in some years the district could adjust by shifting one day within the summer schedule.
Board members expressed general support for placing the item on the next voting meeting agenda so the board can review policy language and cost implications. No formal vote was taken at the work session.
The board directed staff to prepare the policy language to add Juneteenth as a paid holiday and to include the item on new business at the upcoming voting meeting.