Board reviews first reading on expense-reimbursement changes and hears Whittaker Bank sponsorship proposal
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Summary
The board reviewed a first reading that would raise the standard per-diem to $50 and add a $60 high-rate per diem tied to state guidelines; staff also presented a proposed Whittaker Bank agreement offering $25,000 for gym-floor naming rights, but the transcript does not record a final vote on the sponsorship or the policy changes.
Mercer County school board members reviewed policy changes and a sponsorship proposal during Monday’s meeting.
District staff presented a first reading of revised expense-reimbursement policies that would create separate versions for certified and classified staff and move toward per-diem reimbursements with no receipts required. Staff said the change would align the district with state mileage and meal rate guidelines and would raise the standard per-diem from $40 to $50 per day, with a $60 per-day rate defined for ‘‘high rate’’ areas under the state definition. "We're trying to make it a little bit easier to understand," a district official said. This item was a first reading; no final approval was recorded.
Separately, staff described a proposed naming-rights and advertising agreement with Whittaker Bank intended to help offset the cost of a high-school gym renovation. The proposal described a $25,000 contribution tied to naming/advertising on the gym floor and referenced terms the transcript rendered as "up to 2 and 15 years with no minimum." The board placed the item on the agenda for a roll-call vote, but the transcript does not include a recorded roll-call result or final action on the agreement.
Board members moved the consent agenda and later adjourned; the calendar recommendations (two draft calendars for 2026–27 and 2027–28) were presented for review and will return for approval at a future meeting. No final policy adoption or sponsorship contract execution was reported in the transcript.