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Board approves higher fees for after-school program to raise staff pay
Summary
The board approved a revised fee schedule for the district's after-school/ESY program to allow higher hourly pay for staff and better retention; the presenter said proposed wages would match educational assistant scales and summer full-day fees would be raised to about $125.
The Franklin County Board of Education voted to adopt a revised fee schedule for the district’s after-school and ESY (extended school-year) programs designed to raise staff pay and address chronic staffing shortages.
The presenter, identified by the board as Ms. Albert, told members the program is self-supporting and that pay for site staff has lagged district educational assistants. She asked the board to allow a new fee structure so staff wages could be increased to align with educational-assistant pay scales. "I would like to raise their salaries on the same as the educational assistants," she said.
The proposal would raise full-day summer fees to about $125 (a figure the presenter compared with neighboring Tullahoma) and move after-school hourly pay toward parity with educational assistants. In the meeting the presenter cited a proposed raise from about $14.42 to $15.14 per hour for ES/P staff, and said the program currently charges roughly $10 per day for after-school care ($50 per week) and about $100 for full summer days in the district; the proposed schedule would increase the summer full-day fee to about $125 while also extending daily hours.
Board members raised concerns about affordability for families who rely on the program and asked whether state assistance or discounting for multiple children could mitigate any burden. The presenter said some state programs could help but may require extra administrative work and compliance for the program to accept those funds. Board members discussed options including lowering registration fees, offering multi-child discounts and implementing the changes for FY27, not immediately.
Mr. Williams moved to approve the recommended fee schedule; Mr. Cole seconded the motion, which passed on a voice vote. The board recorded the action as an approval to implement the revised fee schedule for FY27.
Board members said they want staff retention addressed, but also requested the new director and administration continue to explore supports for families who cannot afford higher fees before changes take effect.
