Monroe County Board tables resolution to participate in Tennessee $2,000 teacher bonus program

The Monroe County Board of Education on a roll-call vote on a motion to table deferred action on a resolution that would affirm local participation in Section 4 of the Education Freedom Act of 2025 and make kindergarten-through-12 classroom teachers eligible for a one-time bonus of no less than $2,000.

The board’s discussion focused on (1) whether accepting the state-authorized bonus effectively endorses the wider voucher legislation, (2) which employees the money would cover, and (3) how the county might use local funds to extend the $2,000 payment to staff excluded by the state language. Board members asked district staff to provide precise counts and cost estimates before the board takes a final vote.

The resolution under consideration mirrors language in House Bill 6004 (the Education Freedom Act of 2025) and, as read at the meeting, states that local boards must adopt a resolution and submit it to the Tennessee Department of Education by June 1, 2025, to receive funding authorized by Section 4. Staff said the state would not distribute the funds until after July 1 and characterized the bonus as subject to state appropriation. A district staff member also told the board that adopting the local resolution would place the district in the category of systems that indicate they want the state distribution but would not, by itself, obligate the district to provide additional local funding.

Board member Dean Williams argued against adopting the resolution as written and said he opposed the governor’s approach to the bill, calling it a political maneuver; Williams said he would prefer any additional pay to come from the district’s fund balance and to apply more broadly to certified staff. Other board members and a representative of the Tennessee Education Association who attended the meeting said many teachers disliked the way the bonus was tied to the larger voucher law but that the $2,000 would still be welcomed by individual classroom teachers.

Board members discussed several possible approaches: (a) adopt the resolution as drafted to allow K–12 classroom teachers to receive the state bonus and later use local funds to extend payments to other employees; (b) adopt the resolution and immediately adopt a separate local payment to make all certified or all employees whole; or (c) decline the state option and commit local funds for a broader, locally designed payment. No amendment that would have applied $2,000 “across the board” was adopted during the meeting.

A motion to table the resolution until the March meeting passed by roll call. The board directed staff to return in March with numbers showing (1) the count and estimated total cost for employees who would be covered by the state-defined K–12 classroom-teacher category and (2) at least one alternate figure for all certified employees (and, separately, for employees not covered by the state category) so the board can compare local-cost scenarios.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the consent and regular agenda (as amended): voice vote, carried. - Motion to approve February 2025 budget amendments: voice vote, carried. - Motion to approve minutes of the Jan. 9, 2025 regular meeting: voice vote, carried. - Motion to adopt the resolution affirming participation in Section 4 of the Education Freedom Act of 2025: motion made but later tabled; final action was to table (see below). - Motion to lay the resolution on the table until the March meeting: roll-call vote carried. Recorded roll-call for the table motion (as read into the record): Richard Bettis — Yes; Joe Cagle — Yes; Sharon Freeman — Yes; Mark Ingram — Yes; Freddie Kelly — Yes; (name read as) Bridal Kyle — Yes; John Regill — Yes; Dean Williams — No; motion carried and the resolution was tabled for the March meeting. - Motion to send letters of appreciation to Representative Loyce Russell and Senator Tom Hatcher for voting against the larger voucher plan: roll-call vote carried (recorded unanimously in the minutes).

District report and next steps Dr. Jackie Windsor, on behalf of the district, reported that district enrollment stood at 4,838, a decrease of 11 students from the previous count, and reminded the board that February is Career and Technical Education month. Windsor said the district used two stockpile days that week plus a scheduled staff development day and the President’s Day holiday to deep-clean buildings, and that one stockpile day remained for the year. The superintendent/staff will provide the teacher counts and cost estimates requested by the board at the March meeting.

What the state law says (as read to the board) The resolution as read cites House Bill 6004 (Education Freedom Act of 2025) and states that Section 4 requires the Department of Education to award a one-time bonus of no less than $2,000 to teachers employed in K–12 public schools during the 2024–25 school year, subject to appropriation, and requires local boards that wish to participate to submit a resolution to the Tennessee Department of Education by June 1, 2025.

Next board meeting: the board expects staff to return in March with teacher counts and cost estimates so members can decide whether to adopt the resolution, adopt a local supplement, or take other action.