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Hickman County school board approves interim hire, budget amendments, two proms and policy changes
Summary
At its March meeting the Hickman County Board of Education approved an interim driver's-education hire that invoked the district's nepotism and interim-hire policy, adopted four budget amendments, approved two high-school prom requests, authorized purchase of pre-K playground equipment and approved four policies on second reading.
The Hickman County Board of Education on its March meeting approved an interim hire to cover a driver's-education vacancy, adopted four budget amendments including a general-fund reallocation that must go to the county commission, approved two high-school prom requests (one off campus, one on campus), authorized replacement playground equipment for prekindergarten sites and approved four policies on second reading.
Board and staff members said the district has an immediate need for behind-the-wheel instruction for about 80 students after the regular driver's-education instructor went on leave. The district identified Braden Lane as the best available interim candidate; the board discussed policy language about relatives of board members and interim hires before approving the appointment as an interim, temporary replacement for the remainder of the school year.
Superintendent-level staff and the board framed the hire as an interim appointment rather than initial employment and said the candidate is not enrolled in the state retirement system, is not receiving benefits and is on an hourly salary schedule with a starting step described by staff as roughly twelve dollars per hour. Board members and staff cited district policy that allows interim employees to fill vacancies created by leave and said the district's attorney advised that the interim appointment complied with that policy.
Board members voted unanimously to approve budget amendments numbered 25, 26, 27 and 28, which adjust federal- and state-program allocations and move some contracted-services spending into different reporting line items for state reporting. School staff told the board that the district received a new TISA (Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement) projection showing roughly $1 million more in state funding next year; staff said about 60% of that increase (approximately $600,000) is attributable to increased career-technical-education (CTE) funding. Staff also said earlier projections for a 4.5% pay increase for certificated employees and a flat-rate increase for classified employees would likely require about $2 million in additional salary funding and that further budget discussion is scheduled for April.
The board also authorized purchasing replacement playground equipment for the district's elementary pre-K play areas. Staff reviewed two equipment options; they said one option is lower cost and the other slightly larger. The funding for the equipment will come from internal reallocation of personnel line items and the approved ePlan; staff said the chosen option will include shipping and installation.
Two prom requests were approved. Students from East Hickman High School requested and the board approved an off-campus prom at Crossroads Cowboy Church on April 5; students said they had secured security coverage and community sponsorships to reduce ticket prices. Separately, the board approved a Hickman High School prom to be held on campus in the high-school gym on April 12; staff said local vendors and the district's regular DJ vendor will support the on-campus event.
On policy, the board approved four policies on second reading. The changes include removing language about CTE dual-enrollment rigor points in the grading policy, adding a written-notice requirement for voluntary promotion/retention decisions that must be submitted within 30 days after the school year ends, modifying background-investigation procedures to reflect the district's participation in an automatic-check program for employees and keeping five-year checks for volunteers and contractors, and clarifying the use of emotional-support funds. The board approved those policies by voice vote.
Board members discussed scheduling for a budget work session and agreed staff should bring more detailed budget information to the April meeting; staff said moving the work session to April would produce more useful numbers for negotiations and planning.
The meeting included the routine approval of the agenda and minutes and several consent items; the board took the motions and votes in public session and recorded roll-call approval for the budget amendments.
