Marion school board approves central-office staffing plan but pauses position upgrades amid budget concerns

The Marion County School Board on March 24 approved the district’s central office staffing plan for the 2026–27 fiscal year but voted to remove proposed position upgrades after members raised concerns about timing and pay increases.

Dr. Allison Campbell, board member, said she opposed upgrades that would increase salaries without commensurate additional duties and announced she would vote against the plan as presented. "I will be voting against this item," Campbell said during the discussion, citing optics and fiscal uncertainty.

Wantanisha Morant, the district’s executive director of human resources, told the board that part of the rationale for the recommended increases ties back to a previously commissioned salary study and to correcting past misplacements in the organizational chart. "A portion of … the increases does tie back to our salary study," Morant said, explaining that some positions had been performing at higher levels and that adjustments were intended to reflect that work.

Board members acknowledged the competing priorities: several expressed sympathy for staff who handle emergency and off-hours responsibilities but said the district’s uncertain state budget and ongoing work on site-based budgeting made it imprudent to approve across-the-board upgrades now. Board member Thrower said the district must be careful given current fiscal headwinds; other members asked staff to study overtime practices and the options for converting some hourly roles to salaried positions without violating federal rules.

With those concerns unresolved, board member Dr. Campbell moved to amend the motion to approve the proposed central office staffing plan "minus the position upgrades." The amended motion, seconded by board member Thrower, passed on a 4–0 vote.

The board’s decision allows recruitment and posting for positions related to new projects—most notably staffing for the new South Marion High School—to proceed while delaying the specific title and pay upgrades identified by staff until the board has a clearer financial outlook. Dr. Danielle Brewer, superintendent, said approving the bulk of the staffing plan would let the district hire for positions that must be filled in advance of the July 1 effective date.

Next steps: staff will proceed with hiring for approved roles and return to the board later with a proposal on the paused upgrades after further discussion of budget implications and the salary-study recommendations.