The Trousdale County Board of Education unanimously approved a preliminary fiscal-year 2025–26 general-purpose budget to submit to the county commission, including a plan to raise the district’s starting teacher salary to $50,000.

Dr. Satterfield told the board that state law requires a preliminary budget be provided to the county commission by the first week of May and that the district’s proposed budget (referred to in the meeting materials as option "3") includes an early implementation of the state-required $50,000 starting salary to better retain and attract teachers. The proposal also includes pay increases for teacher aides and other noncertified staff and higher coaching supplements for middle- and high-school coaches.

"We want to try to raise the starting teacher salary to $50,000 next year," Dr. Satterfield said. He said the district is required to reach that level in the following year under state expectations but recommended moving sooner to improve recruitment and retention.

Board member Mister Atwood moved to adopt the preliminary budget (the option marked "3" in board materials); Miss Petty seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to pass the preliminary budget and forward it to the county commission for consideration. Staff said if the county commission’s final allocations differ from projections, the board will return to adjust the budget before final adoption.

Superintendent Satterfield said the district will continue to refine assumptions and that the preliminary budget aimed to cover teacher pay increases, noncertified raises and additional coaching supplements while allowing staff to proceed with program and staffing planning ahead of the county commission’s budget hearings.

Because the preliminary budget must be delivered to the county commission in early May, board members emphasized the need for prompt county-level consideration during the commission’s scheduled May review weeks.

The board’s approval sends the district’s proposed funding needs and staffing-related commitments to the county commission; final approval of specific pay increases depends on the county’s decision during its budget process.