Hickman County TN

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

School Board · Special Called Meeting · Mar 17, 2026

Tue, Mar 17, 2026

Hickman County Board of Education meetings, including regular sessions and special called meetings.

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Outline

Disclaimer:
This outline was created using AI based on an automatically generated transcript. The transcript and this outline is likely to contain errors, inaccuracies, or omissions. Always refer to the original audio recording if you need to verify any details or for official purposes.

Consulting Agreement Discussion

  • Board members discuss concerns about paying roughly $11,000 per month for a temporary superintendent consultant over April-May.
  • Discussion compares the proposed compensation with a previous interim arrangement that was described as lower-cost.
  • Members emphasize transition needs, including onboarding before June and coordination with the current superintendent.
  • Board raises concern about staff confusion over reporting lines during the overlap period.
  • Members suggest clarifying consultant vs. acting superintendent roles in writing and district communications.
  • Budget impact is discussed; speakers indicate funding is available through existing budget lines and a vacancy.

Motion and Vote: Temporary Consulting Agreement

  • Motion is made to approve the temporary consulting agreement with Marcy Tidwell from April 1 through May 31, 2026.
  • Roll-call vote includes both yes and no votes.
  • Motion passes by a 4-2 result.

Trip Request: JAG National Conference

  • Student and staff request approval for travel to JAG Nationals in Salt Lake City in late April/early May.
  • Student qualifications are presented (regional and state public speaking placements leading to national competition).
  • Staff outlines logistics, including chaperone and coordination support for travel and lodging.
  • Board members commend the program and instructors.

Motion and Vote: JAG Trip Approval

  • Motion is made and seconded to approve the JAG national conference trip request.
  • Vote is approved unanimously by voice vote.

Trip Request: JROTC Mountain Man Memorial March

  • New JROTC instructor requests approval for a Gatlinburg trip (April 9-12) for the Mountain Man Memorial March event.
  • Presentation highlights leadership and character outcomes (teamwork, grit, perseverance, communication) and military remembrance components.
  • Instructor provides packet details on roster, itinerary, budget/fundraising, waivers, and transportation plans.
  • Parents are expected to assist with transportation/chaperoning.

Motion and Vote: JROTC Trip Approval

  • Motion is made and seconded to approve the JROTC trip request.
  • Vote is approved by voice vote.

Adjournment of Initial Business Session

  • Board asks for additional business and proceeds to a motion to adjourn that portion of the meeting.
  • Motion and second are made; adjournment carries by voice vote.

Budget Work Session Overview

  • Finance leadership introduces budget work-session materials and notes the district began preparation in December.
  • Main budget pressure identified is the state minimum teacher salary requirement of $50,000 and related scale constraints by experience band.
  • Team plans to refine options in April and finalize a request for county commission action in May.
  • Ongoing meetings with schools/departments are described as part of needs alignment and budget development.

State Funding (TISA) and Revenue Context

  • First TISA estimate is reviewed, with notes that values will continue changing through June.
  • Staff explains TISA mechanics (state/local share and fiscal capacity effects) and cautions that estimates are not final.
  • Preliminary state funding increase is described as modest relative to overall budget pressures.
  • Team indicates it is reviewing coding/data details (including CTE and special education) to ensure funding is accurately captured.

Salary Scenarios Presented

  • Two draft compensation scenarios are presented for discussion, both anchored to required minimum salary adjustments.
  • Scenario modeling focuses on base salary impacts and notes exclusions/limitations (certain funds/components not fully modeled yet).
  • Staff reports substantial projected base-salary increases under both scenarios, with scenario totals differing by approach.
  • Presenter notes estimates may shift based on hiring, degree changes, and other moving factors.

Salary Impact Estimates (From Transcript Discussion)

  • Staff states the required move to the state minimum reflects about a 4.33% increase from the district's current minimum.
  • Scenario one is described as approximately $650,000 in additional base salaries in Fund 141 and approximately $106,000 in Fund 142, for a combined base-salary increase of about $756,000.
  • Staff notes these scenario figures could vary by about 10% either direction due to hiring changes, degree changes, and other moving factors.
  • The transcript does not provide a final county-only cost figure; the closest local-facing base figure discussed is the Fund 141 amount.
  • Staff reports a preliminary state funding estimate increase of about $354,000, while emphasizing final state/local impacts were still in flux.
  • Staff explicitly says scenario salary figures shown were base only and did not include associated payroll costs such as taxes, supplements, retirement effects tied to salary growth, and insurance budgeting uncertainty.

Comparative Pay-Scale Context

  • Board receives a comparison of district teacher pay against neighboring districts (including larger nearby systems).
  • Discussion notes competitive pressure and retention challenges, especially for experienced teachers.
  • Members reflect on prior efforts to stay competitive and ongoing difficulty matching higher-paying neighbors.

Additional Budget Drivers and Operational Updates

  • Staff references upcoming capital prioritization, textbook needs, transportation and maintenance procurement, and student technology planning.
  • Possible state policy changes around elementary technology use are noted as potential cost drivers.
  • Fuel, utilities, software transition costs, and insurance uncertainty are identified as variables affecting final budget development.
  • Staff states most employees would likely see increases under current scenarios, with a few schedule-specific considerations.

Board Questions and Q&A Topics

  • Questions include projected year-end deficit level, number of employees impacted by proposed salary scenarios, CTE growth implications, and funding sensitivity.
  • Staff indicates year-end estimate is still being finalized and expects to provide an updated projection soon.
  • Additional concern is raised about ensuring no employee groups are left behind in compensation adjustments.

Facilities Update

  • Board asks for status of East High School roof work.
  • Staff reports work has started, references a recent incident involving another contractor, and indicates an estimated multi-week project timeline.

Next Steps

  • Staff asks board members to submit specific scenario requests before April budget discussions.
  • District finance team commits to additional modeling and updated estimates as new data becomes available.

Final Adjournment

  • Meeting concludes after completion of work-session discussion and a final motion to close.