Educators in the Grundy County school system will not receive a one-time bonus available to teachers statewide. This decision follows the Grundy County School Board’s approval of a resolution rejecting the $2,000 bonus.
The bonus was associated with Governor Bill Lee’s “Education Freedom Act” and required a vote by local school boards to accept the funds. The legislation also involves reallocating money from public schools to private school vouchers.
Although the funds would come from the state rather than Grundy County, the school board members voted 5 to 4 against accepting the bonus. Grundy County is the only district out of 147 to decline these state-funded resources. Members Phyllis Lusk, Nelda Stiefel, Angela Nunley and Margaret Thomas voted yes to accept the money and Mary Ann Hargis, Doyle Shrum, Linda Broom, Eric Birdwell and Dr David Dickerson voted to turn down the money.
