At the September 9, 2024 Coffee County School Board Meeting $405,948.84 was approved for the after-school program by a vote of 7 to 1, with the only “no” vote coming from Holly Matthews.
A lengthy discussion was had by the Board regarding the District Director and the site Directors of the After-school program.
Tonya Garner is the Coordinator of School Health and has managed the Excellence after-school program for several years. Garner was previously tasked with handling the 21st Century Grant that was reportedly “complicated” and was previously compensated in the amount of $25,000 for that and the management of the after-school program. The new budget amendment proposed has Garner making $15,000 for the continued after-school work minus the 21st Century Grant work.
A number of School Board members balked at paying Site Directors and paying Garner the proposed $15,000 for the upcoming school year. Scott Hansert and Freda K. Jones in particular took issue with the compensation amounts proposed.
Board member Robert Gilley had this to say:
In an exchange with Dr. Lawson, Board member Freda Jones said:
Board Member Jones went on to allege that the Coffee County School Board approves items that “they do not realize”:
Dr. Lawson made recommendations regarding Garner’s pay:
Hear the entire exchange about the topic by tuning into Thunder Radio’s Connecting Coffee County on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 3PM.
