Panel stalls process for school board pay hike
Could increase to $25K annually
901-529-2702
Pay raises for the Shelby County School board stalled Wednesday after the County Commission’s education committee voted to send the issue to an ad hoc committee.
The committee was slated to vote on an ordinance to raise school board member pay by $10,000.
School board members now receive $15,000 a year with an additional $1,000 for the chairman. That amount was approved by the commission in 2014. Previously, the board was paid $4,200, an amount set in 1988.
School board member Stephanie Love addressed the commission and shared her extensive schedule of about 15 meetings for the month of September including several days with multiple meetings.
“This raise will not only help me provide for my children, but as an elected official it is my responsibility to assist constituents regardless of whether they’re in a charter school, Shelby County school, municipal school, private school or whatever,” said Love, who is a licensed cosmetologist.
However, some commissioners believed the board raise should have been part of the budget. They also wanted to know more about the school board’s plans for employee benefit cuts and the opinion of the teachers’ union.
Commissioner Walter Bailey sponsored the raise ordinance and challenged the commissioners to have the “courage” to simply vote the measure up or down.
“This is not a complicated issue. They either deserve the raise, or they don’t,” Bailey said.
The committee also approved a resolution asking SCS and Agricenter International to explore the feasibility of making Bolton High School a regional agriculture career technical school.
It’s possible to make Bolton a “center of excellence” in the area of agriculture, said Commissioner David Reaves, who sponsored the resolution.
The full commission will vote on these issues Monday.
Saturday: National Civil Rights Museum, noon-5 p.m.; Mid-South Pride Festival, Robert Church Park, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Block Party for Peace, Ed Rice Community Center, 5:30-8 p.m.; BreakFest 2016, Water Tower Pavilion on Broad Street, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday: Levitt Shell, 6-8:30 p.m.; Block Party for Peace, Ed Rice Community Center, 2-6 p.m.
Monday: National Civil Rights Museum, noon-5 p.m.
Tuesday, National Voter Registration Day: Court Square, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Benjamin Hooks Central Library, noon-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.; Courtyard of Overton Square, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Hope Credit Union, 1451 Madison Ave., noon-4 p.m.
SCEC officials also are urging people who are already registered to vote to check to make sure their registration address is up to date, and that their status is active, by visiting shelbyvote.com or calling 901-222-1200.