MNPS School Board Budget Update

The MNPS School Board met Tuesday, May 10th for a Budget Committee meeting and their regularly scheduled public comment meeting.

Discussion of the budget was expected during the committee meeting, with subsequent approval of the summary of changes to the operating budget (page 17: Click Here) during the main meeting, but that's not how things ended up playing out. The primary dissension rose around the support staff pay study that has now been mentioned for MONTHS as the basis for recommendations for changes in support staff pay. According to Dr. Battle, the study has been completed, but none of the Board Members themselves have seen it. Several of the Board Members did not feel as though the Support Staff were listened to in the creation of the budget, and subsequently voted against the motion to adopt the budget changes during the Budget Committee Meeting: Board Members Buggs, Elrod, Player Peters voted in favor, while Masters, Tylor, Little, and Bush voted against.

Here's the breakdown of proposed increases for hard-to-staff support staff roles:

  • Transportation employees receive at least $2.00 more per hour and then a 4% increase, plus a step. Bus Drivers benchmarked to WeGO (MTA) and starting at $22.25 an hour ($6.20 per hour increase in starting wage)

  • 21-22 Pay Scale plus $2.00 more per hour for nutrition specific positions (i.e., cashier, supervisor, manager) Then a 4% COLA on the increased rates Eligible Employees receive a step increase

  • ParaPros will be slotted from grade 6 to grade 8 on the new scale 21-22 starting pay of $16.05, 22-23 starting pay of $18.57

However, after public comment--during which several support staff and teachers advocated for a greater increase for para professionals--the conversation around the budget came back up. There were many objections raised again about not getting to see the pay study, and ultimately, the Board voted unanimously to defer the vote on the budget until they can see the pay study. (Does Robert's Rules of Order allow you to vote on something you've already voted on?)

A few takeaways:

  • Board Member Abigail Tylor strongly urged the Board to listen to what Support Staff are saying about how they feel the salary scale should be designed.

  • Once Board Members have the pay study (supposedly today?), they will schedule a special retreat to continue this conversation.

  • May 24th will not be a public comment meeting; however, this is the Board's deadline to pass a budget, so it will be an important one.

  • MNEA and SEIU got major praise for the advocacy work that we are doing!

Metropolitan Nashville Education Association