Board debates whether TISA staffing and $520,000 commitment were fulfilled

The Cumberland County Board of Education debated whether personnel previously listed in its TISA accountability plan remain required and whether removing them would require a board vote. The chair said the board had previously approved "5 assistants and 3 teachers" with "$520,000" tied to those positions and argued the district must either follow the approved plan or bring a motion to change it.

"We voted to commit 5 assistants and 3 teachers... This equated to 520,000 of additional funding," the chair said, stressing that the funding and personnel were included in the district's ePlan documentation and that the board should approve any removal. Several board members pressed the director on where those positions were currently assigned and whether the administration had discretion to move or repurpose the staff.

The director said the district's third-grade reading proficiency rose from 33% to 39.8% after supports were added and described efforts to post for teacher and assistant positions at the district level. She said some assistants were used for RTI (response to intervention) across grade levels and that principals had discretion to use staff to meet needs at their schools.

Board members agreed the updated TISA accountability plan would be posted for public comment and returned to a work session; the director said she planned to release the plan for public comment on Oct. 1 and bring it back for a work-session discussion and an October vote. No final vote on changing the prior personnel commitment occurred at the meeting.