SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — Sumner County Schools has approved another round of teacher raises, aiming to meet a new state-mandated salary minimum a year early, while staying competitive in an increasingly aggressive hiring landscape.
The move comes in response to a state law requiring all Tennessee school districts to raise minimum teacher salaries to $50,000 by 2026. Some districts have already hit that mark, prompting concerns among others about falling behind in the race to attract and retain qualified educators.
On Tuesday, the Sumner County School Board voted to boost starting teacher pay to $50,500 for the 2025-2026 school year, up from $47,800 the year prior. That represents a nearly 40% increase since 2019.
“If you add 20205 and 2026 together, over a two year run, we’ve increased our staff compensation about $42,737,894,” said Director of Schools Dr. Scott Langford during the school board meeting.
The approved $402 million budget also includes funding for continued investment in school safety — such as continuing the installation of bullet-resistant film on windows and doors.
Still, some board members believe more can be done. Member Steven King pointed to the district’s $143 million reserve fund, calling for a portion of that money to be used on upgrades that directly impact students, including making playgrounds accessible to children with disabilities.
“When we say we’re taking money away from education, that’s what this fund is doing,” King said. “Taxpayers expect their money to be spent on teachers, students, and education—not sitting in a slush fund.”
The board allocated $250,000 toward Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant playground improvements. The proposed budget now heads to the Sumner County Board of Commissioners for final approval.
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