Overton County board approves differentiated pay plan, names building consultant and adds girls flag football

The Overton County Schools Board of Education on Oct. 21 approved a set of personnel and program actions, including a differentiated pay plan and its subsequent revision, the appointment of a building program consultant with monthly pay, and recognition of a girls flag football program for Phillips Academy.

The board’s fiscal and personnel votes were part of an agenda that also cleared routine budget and grant items, extracurricular trip approvals and compliance reports. Board members approved the measures by voice votes and several roll-call tallies during the meeting held Oct. 21.

Board action and why it matters: The board adopted a differentiated pay plan for the 2025–26 school year intended to provide additional compensation for certain instructional and hard-to-fill roles, then approved a revised version that added a gifted position. Board members said the revisions were needed after recent staffing moves. The board also approved a placement for a building program consultant — Mike Hayes — to receive the same monthly pay as the board chair for months he attends building program functions, a personnel payment the board said was recommended by its auditors. Those…