The previously canceled special meeting took place on Monday, and the controversial carryover proposal created by Kirk Twigg, was voted on. It passed 4-3.
Twigg's proposal includes $2 million dollars for instructional needs, compared to a measly $170,000 dollars that was in the original proposal. The $2 million dollars were originally given to Bus Driver and Custodial pay raises, but they were reallocated to instructional needs, as was seen necessary by Twigg, Phelps, Gillespie, and Abuismail. Reporters at SCSU did come to this conclusion early on.
Many members of the public expressed outrage that bus drivers and custodial staff "weren't going to get paid", but it seems their fears, along with the fears of board members Nicole Cole and Dawn Shelley, were put to rest.
Twigg's proposal, presented by Gillespie, does in fact include bonuses for all staff, including bus drivers and custodians. The only stipulation being that the bonuses should only go to staff that will be renewing their contracts in the fiscal years of 2022-23. Gillespie also noted that the bonuses will depend on the working hours of all staff who receive such bonuses.
Regardless of these revelations, the liberal minority on the board decided to vote against Twigg's proposal. Heated commentary followed suit, by members Nicole Cole and Dawn Shelley.
"People are leaving in droves! You know they are considering leaving based off of the decisions we make--you've (Twigg) been using them, and taking their money out of their mouths! You're saying they owe us these hours! They are leaving because you are underfunding the budget!"
Cole stated.
Dawn Shelley also had her moments when she was in tears on a Facebook live, explaining how she "cares deeply about our educators".
These two members and Dr. Daniels subsequently voted not to pass Twigg's proposal, because they felt it was drastically different from the proposal agreed upon in December. They also claim that amount of funds going to these bonuses are insufficient to creating incentive, quite contrary to their previous comments about the bonuses for staff, which they used to support.
In down voting this proposal, they deny students and teachers the needed $2 million dollars for education. They also deny giving bonuses based off of hours and devotion. They do all of this, while at the same time claiming that Twigg and the rest of the conservative majority are "prolonging" the process.
Twigg's proposal passed regardless, and all staff should expect to receive bonuses soon, as well as extra funding for classrooms, sports, and instructional needs. For some reason, Cole, Shelley, and Daniels voted against these things.