Board tables decision on Touchdown Club pay supplements to football coaches

The Cannon County Board of Education on April 9 tabled a proposal that would allow the Touchdown Club to provide additional salary supplements to football coaches from the club's funds.

Supporters of the proposal said the club raises the money and decides how to allocate it. "At the end of the day, this is their money that they raised," one board member said in support of permitting the supplement. But several board members raised concerns about fairness, transparency and legal exposure if booster club funds were used to supplement individual staff pay.

Director Julie said she had forwarded the amended Touchdown Club bylaws to the board attorney for review and had not yet heard back. "I had sent this information to Mister Jennings, our board attorney, for him to review," she said. A board member said she would also like a direct conversation with the club's representative and requested the finance department's input to ensure the process is ethical and compliant.

After discussion, the board withdrew the immediate motion to approve and voted to table the request until the May workshop (May 14) so counsel and finance staff can review the amended bylaws and related procedures.

The tabling means the board will revisit the request at the May meeting with attorney and finance feedback; no policy change or supplement payments were authorized at the April 9 meeting.