May 8, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Bonuses budgeted for School District Employees!
A month ago, the DeKalb County Board of Education tabled action on a resolution to accept one-time teacher bonuses ($2,000 per educator) as part of Tennessee’s universal school voucher program. But during Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution and take the state’s money for teacher bonuses (approximately $500,000) The school district had until June 1 to give the state an answer.
According to the Tennessee Department of Education, the law states in part that to be eligible for the bonus, an educator must:
• Spend a majority of their day in direct services to students.
• Be employed more than 120 days; and
• Be in full-time employment status
Even though not all licensed certified personnel qualify for the state bonuses, the school board voted to include new money in its proposed 2025-26 budget to cover $2,000 bonuses for those (30 educators) who don’t qualify and to also give a $1,000 bonus to non-certified or support staff ($245,000 total local funding). While this is only a “bonus” and not a “pay raise” the result is that every staff member in the school district, certified or not, will get more money with passage of the school budget this summer by the county commission. Other than the bonuses and step raises, Director Cripps explained that there will be no additional pay raises for staff this year. The school board does not plan to ask for any extra local revenue from the county to fund its budget this coming year.
Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said while he doesn’t agree with the state’s voucher bill, it doesn’t make sense for the school district to turn down money being offered from the state for teacher bonuses.
“By accepting the resolution, it doesn’t mean that you agree with all of the law, but it is money that is in place for our educators,” said Director Cripps. “I have said from the beginning if the voucher program was equal across the board I would not have had any problem with it. We expect our teachers to be licensed. We expect them to go through observations. We expect them to test our students with the state tests and to be successful in those state tests. We are in public education, and we accept all students. All students get tested. I have said from the beginning its about fairness across the board. For everybody to be on the same playing field when we are looking at private versus public education,” said Cripps.
“I appreciate the money that has come from the state, but I disagree with how it’s being given. To say that some educators get the bonus and some educators don’t is not right. Everybody should get money from this. We can’t open schools without busses running every morning or without the cafeterias cooking breakfast and lunch. We can’t do things without our educational assistants, bookkeepers, secretaries, maintenance, etc. We need the whole team. This should not be where one gets money, and we leave somebody out,” Director Cripps explained.
“Looking at what we are getting from the state they are leaving out probably about 30 people with a license. I think we should cover that in our budget and the non-certified staff should get a bonus as well. That’s where I’m at. I’m not saying I agree with vouchers, but the money is there. Let’s take it,” said Director Cripps.
During the public comments period, local resident Clint Hall urged the school board to accept the state money for teacher bonuses and to give local bonuses to school district support staff. Hall also commended the Teacher of the Year Amanda Goodwin and wished all teachers a Happy Teacher Appreciation Week and to nurses a Happy Nurses Week
“I appreciate the opportunity to address you today. First, I want to congratulate Mrs. Amanda Goodwin on being named the Teacher of the Year. She’s a very talented and dedicated professional and very deserving of the award. Secondly, I want to wish all the teachers a Happy Teachers Appreciation Week, and all the nurses a Happy Nurses Week. They put their heart and commitment into their job, and I want them to know their hard work does not go unnoticed,” said Hall.
“I want to address a timely issue before the Board today. At the April Board Meeting, I was deeply concerned there was discussion about not giving teachers in DeKalb County the $2,000 bonus that the State Legislature and Governor appropriated to them in the Education Freedom Scholarship Act of 2025. Our teachers deserve the bonus, and I hope you will reconsider your discussion”.
“I was also disappointed to see that the discussion about whether to give bonuses to DeKalb County teachers was tied to inaccurate public comments from a local school employee and an erroneous resolution from the Board. The truth is that many of your constituents, like me, support school choice. It wasn’t a perfect law, but it was a major step for Freedom, and a positive development for Tennessee children. The reality is, many public schools, just like the ones here in DeKalb County, don’t work for every student. Need look no further than the growing number of home-schooled children in DeKalb County and the increased enrollment of private schools in DeKalb and surrounding counties,” Hall continued.
“I fully support using my tax dollars to serve as a scholarship for parents and students to attend the school of their choice. And I also fully support our public schools and ensuring they have the resources they need to achieve positive results. You see, the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Contrary to some opinions, you can support public schools, private schools, and home schools, and respect the choices that people make. I also don’t think the School Board wants to go down the slippery slope of which funds to reject and accept, from the State or other sources. Those decisions create precedents that can be difficult to defend to your constituents,” said Hall
“But I’m not here to debate the merits of a law that was passed in January or tell you what funds to accept or reject. Rather, I’m here to ask the School Board to consider a win-win for everyone involved. Let’s put games aside and go beyond what the Legislature appropriated”.
“In addition to the $2,000 bonuses for all DeKalb County teachers, that are paid for by the State, I think the Board should also give bonuses to support staff and other school system employees, so that EA’s, dietary workers, maintenance workers, office staff, and others, are rewarded for their hard work. This can easily be paid for out of the $10 million fund balance. Afterall, the school funds, and the state funds are all taxpayer money, and I can think of no better use than to reward the hardworking teachers and staff of DeKalb County School with this bonus,” Hall continued.
“As I wrap up my comments, I again want to thank you for the opportunity to speak today, and for your service on the School Board. Being an elected official is not an easy job. I commend you, and ask that you consider my suggestion, and keep the main thing, the main thing, and that’s educating and preparing our students for life. Thank you,” said Hall.