Educators Express Concern Over Sullivan County’s 2024-25 Budget

In Sullivan County, emotions were high on Thursday as educators and staff voiced their concerns about the proposed 2024-25 school budget during a county commission meeting. This key educational fiscal planning event witnessed a significant turnout and many public comments that underscored the challenges being faced by the county’s education system.

A Proposal for the Future

On Wednesday, Sullivan County’s Board of Education proposed a budget plan of nearly $98 million for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. Notably, the plan included a significant 15% salary increase for all staff and educators and utilized about $6.8 million from the fund balance. The raises were estimated to cost the education system about $10 million, according to Chuck Carter, the Director of Schools for the county.

The budget plan initially sought an additional $6.3 million in local funding back in May, but notably does not require any property tax increase. It was recommended to the full 24-member commission with a 7-1 vote, by the county commission’s Budget Committee at a separate meeting, after being turned down twice before.

Voices of Concern

Lori Rollins, the assistant principal at Rock Springs Elementary, expressed during her public comment that the county seems to have lost focus on what is truly important to both students and educators. She stated, “The finger-pointing and the name-calling have got to stop. We need to show our employees that they are worth fighting for.”

Rollins raised concerns about the proposed budget’s reliance on funds from the county’s fund balance to provide raises, terming it as placing the school system in a precarious situation. She underlined the much-needed repairs and updates to school buildings, and questioned the origin of the funding required for these improvements. Rollins made a correlation between education and incarceration rates, emphasizing that investment in education directly impacts society. In her powerful words, “Funding educators directly impacts the inmate population.”

Camille Peters, a music teacher at the same school, remarked that many of her colleagues were forced to take second jobs to make ends meet. After conducting a poll on social media, Peters found that a significant number of school system staff in Sullivan County also had to maintain second jobs. This finding amplified educators’ concerns.

Looking Ahead

Katie McGhee, a county educator for the past 16 years in Sullivan County, brought attention to the fact that educators have not received a pay rise since 2021, or a cost of living adjustment. She warned that failure to approve the budget would lead to a “revolving door for teachers,” marking a distinct disparity in pay between experienced educators and new teachers.

Recently, declining student enrollment at Sullivan County Schools has been a key point of discussion. McGhee linked this concern to inadequate teacher pay, but also highlighted the county’s achievements despite funding challenges. With a call for more focus on the county’s educational accomplishments, she made the case for investing in educators and improving the county’s educational quality.

In response to these concerns, members of the budget committee have expressed their hopes to finalize and approve a comprehensive and sustainable budget plan by next month.