If Haslam Won’t Give Teachers a Raise, Schools Want Nashville Mayor To Cover It

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean told MNPS not to expect a “blank check” at the Greater Nashville Chamber of Commerce Education Report Card in December. Metro School’s proposed budget for 2014-2015 is about $32.5 million more than last year’s. (Photo Credit: Creative Commons/Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce)

Metro Schools will ask Nashville Mayor Karl Dean to foot the bill on a pay raise for both teachers and support staff. Their request comes after Governor Bill Haslam cancelled his plan for a statewide increase in teacher salaries due to flagging tax revenues.

The district would have asked the Mayor to pitch in even if Haslam’s pay raise went through

“We drafted our budget understanding that was the governor’s proposal but also understanding that because most of our funding is not from the state, that we would need to ask for local money as well,” said Meredith Libbey, the Special Assistant to the Director of Schools.

The raise would now cost the city nearly $7.4 million, if the Metro Council approves.

Mayor Dean has warned the school system that it will not receive a large funding increase, telling them not to expect a “blank check”. The Mayor has asked each department to present a 2 percent budget cut scenario at the hearings.

Dean meets with School Board members on Wednesday to discuss their proposed budget.