Cannon County board approves $2,000 bonuses for noneligible staff; budget amendment required

The Cannon County Board of Education voted unanimously June 9 to provide a one-time $2,000 bonus to all staff classified as noneligible licensed personnel and noneligible unlicensed personnel, with payment contingent on a budget amendment to release the funds.

Board members debated scope and cost before the vote. The board’s discussion noted that the state’s 2024–25 one-time teacher bonus funds cover a subset of educators and leave other employees out of that distribution; expanding bonuses districtwide would therefore require asking the county commission to approve a budget amendment to free roughly $300,000 in additional funds. Board members repeatedly said they preferred to seek pay parity rather than leave groups out.

“...if we’re going to ask for a budget amendment, I wouldn’t leave anybody out,” a board member said during debate, arguing that all staff were deserving. Another member said it “pains me” to deny additional pay but warned that the commission might not approve a large amendment this summer; that member asked that raises or bonuses be made a top priority in January budget talks.

Board member Miss Thomas moved to approve $2,000 for all noneligible licensed and noneligible unlicensed personnel; Miss Curtis seconded. The motion passed 4–0. Meeting remarks indicated the payment will be made in July once the required budget amendment is approved by the commission.

Board discussion included clarifying figures. A staff member noted that if a $1,000 bonus were given to noncertified employees, the approximate cost for that group would be $152,235.60 including benefits; doubling that amount would roughly double the cost. Board members also discussed which employee categories were included in “noneligible” (for example, part-time certified staff, some central-office certified staff, principals and nurses who were not included in the state bonus distribution). Several speakers asked that payroll staff be given a clear, itemized amount for certified and noncertified groups to ensure correct checks.

The board did not specify the final total dollar amount the district will formally request in its budget amendment; meeting discussion placed that figure “close to $300,000” if all excluded groups were included. The board directed staff to prepare the necessary amendment for the commission.

The vote was conducted by roll call. The board’s recorded action listed Miss Curtis, Mr. McMackins, Miss Thomas and Miss Trammell as voting “aye.”

The decision follows earlier discussion at the meeting about state-provided one-time teacher bonus funds for 2024–25 and which employees those funds do and do not cover. Board members said they expect to return to compensation discussions during the next budget cycle in January to consider longer-term pay adjustments.

Payment timing and the final scope remain contingent on the commission’s approval of the budget amendment and on the district’s payroll processing details.