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Blount County Board adopts FY25-26 budget with teacher raises and new positions
Summary
The Blount County Board of Education on its April agenda adopted the FY25-26 budget, approving teacher compensation increases and funding to add dozens of instructional and support positions without asking county government for new taxes, board and staff said.
The Blount County Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the proposed FY25-26 budget, which staff said funds teacher pay increases and a range of new positions across the district.
Board members approved the budget after staff outlined priorities including teacher compensation increases (described by staff as an incentive and raises), and targeted hires. Central-office staff listed specific positions they plan to encumber or add: seven RTI teachers, four LLI positions, three graduation coaches, 30 instructional assistants, two intervention teachers at the district's largest elementaries, two ESL teachers, several special-education roles (elementary and middle SPED positions plus a social worker), a part-time nurse to replace COVID-era funding losses, three technical positions, an administrative assistant at ECCA, a part-time athletics bookkeeper and at least one additional elementary assistant principal.
Bridal (central office staff) and Brian (finance) told the board the district has about $8 million available to prioritize across teacher pay, staffing and transportation. "You have $8,000,000 to prioritize this year," Brian said during discussion. Staff also said the district currently has roughly $1.81 million remaining from previously allocated staffing funds and that some positions will be paid from special-education (SPED) funding.
Board members asked about timing for posting positions and recruitment efforts; staff said recruiting is already underway and that openings will be posted as soon as the board gives the green light. Board member Erica asked whether the $2.5 million staffing line referenced earlier was a continuation of prior allocations; staff replied it is a continuation plus modest increases.
The board recorded a roll-call vote approving the budget; members present recorded "Yes." No new county tax increase was requested to fund the plan, the director said.
The board scheduled follow-up line-item review in April and May, and staff said accounting staff would work with individual departments to finalize specifics and implementation schedules.
