White County BOE reallocates portion of $607,142.86 state bonus to one-time staff payout; motion approved

The White County Board of Education voted May 26 to reallocate a state high-performing schools bonus, moving roughly one-third of the $607,142.86 award into a one-time payout for full-time staff and directing the remainder to schools and transportation as adjusted.

Director of Schools Mr. Strombarger told the board the district received a high-performing schools bonus of $607,142.86 from the state and proposed splitting the funds in thirds: one third to staff, one third to individual schools (the board discussed a $50-per-student allocation), and one third to district transportation needs including buses and vans. "We kind of live and die as a team," Strombarger said, arguing any staff bonus should be distributed across all full-time employees rather than to a subset of teachers.

Board member Mr. McDonald moved the reallocation as presented; the motion was seconded by Mr. Smith and approved by voice vote. The board's discussion focused on the arithmetic and the effect on the bus purchase plan: after the reallocation, Stormbarger and the chair calculated approximately $133,008.53 would remain from the bonus for buses and the district would need to use fund balance to complete the purchase. Finance staff said the district would handle the transaction with a budget amendment to the current fiscal year rather than moving the cost into the FY2027 capital budget.

Board members asked how the staff payout would be divided. Strombarger said the proposed staff share—about $202,381—would be divided by the total number of full-time employees so the dollar amount per person would depend on payroll withholdings; presenters estimated gross payments would be in the "low- to mid-300s" before taxes and roughly the $270 range after taxes as a rough example depending on individual circumstances. The board also confirmed that the schools allocation of about $178,350 represented the $50-per-student formula discussed previously and that $100,000 was being set aside to replace vans.

The motion passed by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally. The board directed staff to process the reallocation via a budget amendment and noted the change will affect the timing and funding of planned bus purchases.

What happens next: the board approved the reallocation at the May 26 meeting and told staff to prepare the necessary budget amendment. The district indicated buses could be ordered before the fiscal year ends if paperwork is completed, and the finance office will include the changes in its year-end accounting and future capital planning.