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Hamblen County school board approves 2026–27 budget, opts for attendance-coach staffing and eliminates crisis counselor position
Summary
The Hamblen County Board of Education on May 19, 2026, approved the district’s 2026–27 budget largely as presented while deferring two contested positions into separate votes; the board chose Option 1 for attendance coaches (1 full-time, 2 part-time at $210,636) and voted to eliminate a crisis counselor position, saving $42,000. The budget will be submitted to the county commission.
The Hamblen County Board of Education on Tuesday evening approved the school district’s 2026–27 budget largely as presented at a prior meeting and completed two separate votes on contested positions.
The board’s presiding officer opened the specially called meeting at 6:00 p.m. and, after adopting the agenda, moved to approve the previously distributed budget with two exceptions: the six attendance coaches and a crisis counselor position. A committee member urged cooperation, saying, “Everybody’s not seen eye to eye…let’s make a commitment that ever how we vote, no one will feel hard towards nobody else,” underscoring the contentious lead-up to the vote.
The board approved the remainder of the proposed budget by voice; one member abstained. The board then debated staffing for attendance coaches. A motion to adopt Option 1 — described at the meeting as one full-time position and two part-time positions for a total cost of $210,636 — passed after a roll-call vote. Recorded votes during that roll call were: Mister Williams — yes; Miss Clawson — abstain; Mister Kinder — no; Mister Workman — yes; Miss Smith — yes; Mister Harbel — yes; Mister Denton — yes. The presiding officer announced the motion passed.
On the crisis counselor position, a motion to eliminate that position (noted at the meeting as saving approximately $42,000) was moved and seconded. The board took a roll-call vote that carried the motion. Recorded votes were: Mister Workman — yes; Miss Smith — no; Mister Harbel — yes; Mister Kinder — no; Miss Claussen — abstain; Mister Williams — yes; Mister Denton — yes. The chair stated the motion passed and that the board’s budget decisions were therefore complete for submission.
The board’s secretary explained the next procedural step: the approved budget will be submitted to the County Commission and briefed at that body’s June 1 working session. The secretary stated the figure presented to the county commission was $145,611,723.30.
The board also approved action item 4.2, an overnight girls basketball field trip submitted by Randy Green; the motion carried without discussion. The chair thanked members for their work and adjourned the meeting.
The board’s formal actions will move to the county commission as part of the county’s broader budget process; the county commission is expected to consider the district’s submission during its June 1 working session.
