CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – County commissioners voted Monday to reject proposed budget amendments for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, citing disagreement with a proposed $60,000 raise for Director of Schools Millard House.
The proposed amendments will be sent back to the school board for reconsideration and revision, after which it will return to the County Commission for another vote, based on an amendment by District 15 Commissioner David Harper.
Harper’s amendment also asks the school board to consider separating House’s raise from the rest of the budget to be considered separately. The amendment was approved 14-6.
The school board, as well as several commissioners, have argued in favor of the raise, citing the salaries of school directors in Tennessee school districts of similar size.
District 1 Commissioner Gannon spoke extensively on the issue of the proposed raise, suggesting that while Tennessee school districts of similar size pay their directors significantly more, they have larger student populations overall.
District 18 commissioner Jason Knight also argued against the budget amendment, saying that school administrators such as House should be motivated by more than pay.
“I am not opposed to a raise, but a raise to the extent (the school board) is asking is just a little bit exorbitant,” Knight said. “True leadership is not measured on how much you pay someone.”
Commissioners are expected to revisit the resolution at their next formal meeting on May 10, with discussion taking place on May 3.