The Clay County School Board approved a $2,000 one-time bonus for non-teachers during Thursday’s board meeting.
The bonuses will go to all employees who are excluded from the 2025 Education Freedom Act passed by state legislators. School Board Chairman Benji Bailey said the voucher bill left out too many employees.
“In our opinion, these folks are very valuable to our system, we couldn’t do it without them,” Bailey said. “It would include your aids, it would include your admin staff, it would include bus drivers, it will also include cooks. All the folks that help make our school system work day in and day out.”
Bailey said it will cost the school system an estimated $221,000 to provide the bonuses to non-teachers. The board also approved a resolution that is required for teachers to receive a $2,000 bonus from the state.
“I feel okay about where we are or I would not have even brought it out to the table,” Clay County Schools Finance Director Ashley White said. “I do think that you are going to be able to have a surplus in your fund balance, so I think we do that you know if you are able to extend it on for the staff I’m okay with that as far as the numbers look.”
School Board Member James Mays questioned the teacher bonuses that the state is requiring school systems to pass in order to receive it.
“This sounds like something where they tried to sweeten the pot and get you to do something and then they come back and tell you ‘Oh by the way.'” Mays said.
Bailey said there are no strings attached and that the Tennessee School Boards Association has helped the board draft the resolution. The board approved both bonuses by a unanimous vote.
In other business, the board approved new science textbooks for grades K-12.
The board also approved the purchase of Avigilon Access Control, Equipment Hardware, and Licenses for security entries to be installed on five additional doors spread throughout the school system. White said two will be installed at Hermitage Springs Elementary, two at Celina K-8, and one at Clay County High School.
Director of Schools Diana Monroe announced Clay County High School Student Witt Kaslikowski scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. Monroe said Kalikowski is the second to score a perfect score on the ACT this year.
