Travel Restored –

BOE votes for $10,000 trip to Opryland

By: Pat Hunter

October 19, 2008

Just a few short months back, the majority of old School Board members voted to cut out Board salary and travel. But at the following meeting, the School Board back peddled and restored their 36,240, board and committee fees. Each School board member receives $300 monthly or $3600 yearly pay.

Chairman Tate deferred the discussion of travel to School Director Wayne Honeycutt. Honeycutt mentioned that the Board had asked for him to look into travel for the TSBA conference. He mentioned that six members were interested in attending the conference. The meeting will be held at the Opryland Resort. He said that the business manager had a budget amendment to cover the travel. Honeycutt recommended that the Board attend the conference. The motion was made by School Board member Craig Simon and seconded by school board member Bill Marcus to attend the convention in November. School Board member Shaver asked about the cost and Tate replied that if all 10 members were to attend the conference the cost would be about $10,000. Shaver said that he could not imagine taking $10,000 from the schools right now for a tailgate party in Nashville. He thought that if the Board wanted to attend that was fine but for them to pay their own way.

Chairman Tate countered that it was very beneficial. Much could be learned and it would be an opportunity for the Board members to interact with other school boards, Tate added. Craig asked if one or two school board members could attend and bring back information to the other board members. Gary Ubbens, UT professor that faces huge cuts at UT, spoke about the Board being responsible for a $35 Million plus budget and he thought that it would be wise to attend the meeting. It would be hard for two board members to attend all the meetings, Bobby Johnson, Jr. commented. Larry Proaps spoke in favor of attending the conference.

Steve Harrelson asked about mandatory classes and Lisa Russell said that she was reimbursed with a stipend for attending her mandatory classes for new school board members. Lisa Russell said that she thought that mandatory classes should be reimbursed for. But spending $10,000 when the school board needs $15,000 for the road, she was willing to forego the trip. Harrelson commented that he thought the School Board should stay with the Board’s earlier decision to cut out travel, which was made during the financial budget crunch. The motion carried with 3 NO votes from: Lisa Russell, Van Shaver and Steve Harrelson. Yes votes: Leroy Tate, Bill Marcus, Scotty Newman, Larry Proaps, Bobby Johnson, Jr. and Craig Simon.

When it was time to approve the budget amendment for the travel, business manager presented a $20,000 Travel amendment that Wayne Honeycutt and Sims had prepared for the Board's approval. The Board voted down the $20,000 amendment however a second motion was made for $10,000 to cover the travel for Opryland, which was approved by the majority of the Board.

The School Board voted to transfer $10,000 from the maintenance budget. School buildings purportedly are in dire need of maintenance and repairs nonetheless, the majority of School Board voted to use maintenance money for their own needs, which is hard to understand.

Why didn’t someone suggest transferring $10K from the IT department budget or transferring money from Director Wayne Honeycutt’s $58,465 travel budget or $63,000 from his communication budget or $14,000 in dues and memberships expense line? Honeycutt’s travel expense could use some trimming. Just last week, he was seen with Mayor Arp and other VIPS and press, in Vonore at the proposed new ethanol plant ground breaking ceremony. Does this sound like a school system with money problems?

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10-19-2008