KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — The Knox County School Board has approved a reduced budget after the district lost nearly $8 million in anticipated state and local funding, while also formally asking the Knox County Commission to reconsider a recently approved 6% raise for county employees.
The funding changes come with about one month remaining before students return to classrooms for the new school year.
A major portion of the shortfall stems from County Commission’s decision to redirect approximately $3.8 million away from Knoxville-area schools to help fund pay raises for county workers. At the same time, Tennessee’s school funding formula, known as the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA), determined Knox County Schools could meet state requirements with less funding than originally expected.
As a result, the district’s revised budget eliminates 29 staff positions.
Superintendent Jon Rysewyk told board members that district officials have developed a plan to minimize the impact on employees affected by the reductions.
“Our team worked hard and really the 29 positions that were cut were about 17 people, but we have a plan to land them vacant positions at other schools,” Rysewyk said.
Board member Steve Triplett expressed concern about the timing of the staffing reductions, noting schools are already preparing for the upcoming academic year.
“That’s the only challenge I have is asking them to lose a position this close to the school year,” Triplett said.
During the public forum, Carter High School teacher Michael O’Malley urged the board to reject the cuts and instead use reserve funds to preserve staffing levels.
“Y’all don’t have to passively accept this. You don’t have to thank the commission for doing their jobs or for their service to the community. They’ve reduced funding for our public schools,” O’Malley told board members. “Reserve funds are meant for emergencies and having to lose 29 staff positions and furlough more is what I’d call an emergency.”
Despite those concerns, the school board chose not to use reserve funds to offset the reductions.
Following approval of the budget, board members unanimously passed a resolution requesting that Knox County Commission revisit the 6% raise approved for county employees.
Triplett noted that the pay increase also applies to school board members under the county charter.
“In so doing by virtue of our county charter, would also lose our pay raise by 6%,” Triplett said.
The resolution does not have the authority to block or reverse the raises. Any changes would require action by County Commission, which could review the board’s request and ultimately decide to leave the raises in place.
School officials now move forward with the revised spending plan as the countdown to the start of the new school year continues.
