CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A proposal to increase the pay for Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools Director Millard House became a central part of discussion Monday as the County Commission reviewed the schools budget, with several commissioners taking issue with what they saw as a massive sum.
According to a report included in the commission’s meeting agenda, the pay increase, which comes to $60,000 annually, would place House in line with statewide averages for directors of school systems of Montgomery County’s size.
The budget increase also includes, but is not limited to, an increased vehicle allowance, travel expenses, office supplies and salaries for an assistant, administrative assistant, general counsel and director of Continuous Improvement.
“We have a shortage of substitute teachers. We have a shortage of bus drivers, but yet we’re OK with increasing this this much? I don’t know how much more we can be out of touch,” said District 14 Commissioner Joshua Beal. “I’m not saying a raise isn’t deserved, but this is a lot.”
Some commissioners defended the pay increase, praising House’s work, especially throughout the obstacles of COVID-19. District 5 Commissioner Rashidah Leverett called the raise an issue of “marketability,” calling it the price of keeping a talented director of schools.
“I just want to see how many people would trade places with Mr. House and do his job. I have a doctorate in education, and I would not trade places,” Leverett said. “We didn’t make his contract. If you have a question about it, then you should direct that to who made Mr. House’s contract. … We need to look at talent acquisition.”
District 12 Commissioner Lisa Prichard said that commissioners need to “bite the bullet,” and that Montgomery County is “notorious for having paid everybody in our government below what their market value was.”
An all-or-nothing vote
According to County Attorney Tim Harvey, county commissioners will be unable to divide the question of CMCSS’s budget when they vote next Monday, making the budget an all-or-nothing package for commissioners.
Harvey said if the county were to vote down the budget, it would return to the Montgomery County School Board for reconsideration.
District 18 Commissioner Jason Knight objected to the all-or-nothing nature of the vote, saying that it puts commissioners in the difficult spot of voting down other needed budget items, included teacher raises, in the process.
District 15 Commissioner David Harper said he was “miffed” at the situation.
“That puts me in a real bind as far as a position, but I think we need to send a clear message back that (the school board) amend this request and separate these requests out,” said Harper. “We shouldn’t have to ask that.”
County commissioners are expected vote on the CMCSS amended budget Monday, April 12, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting can be viewed live via the Montgomery County, TN Government YouTube channel.
Correction: a previous version of this article should have said the County Commission will meet on Monday, April 12, at 6:00 p.m.