Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oak Ridge Education Association urges longevity bonuses, pay increases and larger health‑care contribution
Summary
At the board meeting, Oak Ridge Education Association president Lisa Weathers urged the district to adopt longevity bonuses tied to unused sick days, a 5% raise for certified staff and 7% for classified staff, and a larger district contribution to employee health care as part of the FY27 budget discussions.
Lisa Weathers, president of the Oak Ridge Education Association, told the board she was asking members to invest in three specific staff supports: a tiered longevity bonus tied to unused sick days, a 5% increase for certified employees and a 7% increase for classified employees, and a larger district contribution toward employee health care.
"I propose offering employees with six to 10 years of service $50 per unused sick day; those with 11 to 20 years $100 per unused sick day; and those with 21 years or more $150 per unused sick day," Weathers said, urging the board to treat the package as an investment in retention and student success.
Weathers said the longevity payment is intended as a bonus, not a buyout, and that sick days would still count toward Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System service credit. She framed the pay proposals as targeted steps to address recruitment and retention pressures, particularly for lower‑paid classified roles.
Vice principal Chris Lighten, who introduced the chorus earlier in the meeting and later described recruitment experience in a neighboring district, told the board that similar incentives in other districts had been used as a modest recruitment tool.
Brian Tinker, principal at Robertsville, separately requested a 3% market adjustment for principals after presenting percentile analyses showing the district’s placement at the 50th–75th percentiles but slightly below the 90th percentile. "A 3% increase puts us in the lead at the 50th and 75th percentiles," Tinker said.
Superintendent Dr. Borchettz framed these requests as part of the district’s broader budget work: the board has begun the FY27 budget process and will consider salary and benefit adjustments as that process progresses. No salary or benefit motion was taken at the meeting; board members indicated the items will be considered during the formal budget cycle.
The board did not vote on the proposals at the meeting. Staff indicated additional analysis and budget work will follow as the district completes its FY27 budget overview in coming meetings.
