NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Hoping to quiet a myriad of concerns raised by teachers and staff over the last few weeks, Metro Nashville Public Schools outlined a comprehensive budget on Tuesday that would include raises for all teachers while cutting at least 11 staff members.
The proposed $918 million budget would be a 3.6 percent increase over last year's budget when the district was forced to cut millions of dollars because of a drop in enrollment lead which lead to a reduction in state funds. On Tuesday MNPS Chief Operating Officer Chris Henson said the district wanted to give every staff member, in every position, a 3 percent cost-of-living raise. Those raises though would be contingent on the Metro Council and Mayor David Briley signing off on the additional $31.7 million the district is requesting this year.
"This is just the initial request from the administration, how to fund it all will fall under the Metro Council," Henson told reporters on Tuesday.
Some teachers thought say the raise doesn't go far enough.
While staff may be getting a raise under the proposed budget, there are also at least 11 people who will lose their jobs under the plan. District officials declined to say what those positions would be but said none of them are based inside schools.
The proposed $918 million dollar budget would also allocate a $1 per-hour raise for all bus drivers and monitors. District officials said that raise is in response to a shortage of drivers across the city. If approved, the $2.12 million for bus drivers and monitors would also allow the district to implement an attendance bonus for drivers.
"We can fill positions but if drivers are absent you'll still end up with late buses," Henson said.
Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph, who has fallen underway fire following a number of NewsChannel 5 Investigates stories, is expected to outline more details of the budget during a board meeting on Tuesday night.
