Confusion within the Bessemer City School system continues. The board hosted a budget meeting for the 2025 school year on Tuesday, and some left with more questions than answers.During the meeting, the board went over the budget for the 2025 year. There were some concerns about the budget breakdown, but the main point of confusion was the salary schedule.Some education representatives feel there are inconsistencies in the scale used to pay staff based on level of education and years of experience. They said the finance office used a 2022 salary schedule to come up with numbers for this year, and that doesn’t check out. The board hired an independent company to investigate the numbers, and WVTM 13 was told Bessemer City Schools is paying staff competitively compared to other districts.Erika Hughes with the American Federation of Teachers said she and others have been asking to meet with the board to discuss the schedule for two years, but a date was never set.“That’s unheard of,” she said, “and you’re going to have a meeting today and push that and expect not to have concerns or questions. That’s very alarming. The chief financial officer is leaving September 1st. The State Department has said they can’t send anyone in to assist. Who is going to act as CFO? Who is going to help out the finance department? Why is the State Department not sending people in to assist?”Just last month, the board approved a takeover by the state board of education. Part of the reason was questions of how the finances were being managed. The chief financial officer is retiring on Sept. 1, and that leaves the department without someone to lead it. The inconsistencies with the salary schedule aren’t helping give others confidence in the way things are being done. Alabama Education Association’s Emery Kidd believes everything has been done by the book and above board. “We’ve already been talking to Dr. Boyd about getting those approved,” he said. “There are some lingering questions surrounding different salaries, and we’re looking forward to having those questions answered at that time. Ultimately, the thing I can say is that we have not found any financial doing by the finance department here in Bessemer.”>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube The school board has until Oct. 1 to make changes to the salary schedule before the state board of education approves it. School board member Margie Varner said she’s not confident the board will get it done by the deadline.“It should be equal to the total numbers that you have on your overall budget sheet for revenues and expenditures, and it doesn’t,” she said. “When you recognize the problem, I think it should be addressed at that time. You shouldn’t pass it on for somebody else to solve it. When you already know that there is a problem. That’s how I personally feel.”If the board can’t fix its issues with the salary schedule in time, it can ask the state for an extension. Hughes, Varner and Kidd all said they’re ready to work to make sure an extension is not needed.
BESSEMER, Ala. —
Confusion within the Bessemer City School system continues. The board hosted a budget meeting for the 2025 school year on Tuesday, and some left with more questions than answers.
During the meeting, the board went over the budget for the 2025 year. There were some concerns about the budget breakdown, but the main point of confusion was the salary schedule.
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Some education representatives feel there are inconsistencies in the scale used to pay staff based on level of education and years of experience. They said the finance office used a 2022 salary schedule to come up with numbers for this year, and that doesn’t check out. The board hired an independent company to investigate the numbers, and WVTM 13 was told Bessemer City Schools is paying staff competitively compared to other districts.
Bessemer Board of Education unanimously consents to state takeover
Erika Hughes with the American Federation of Teachers said she and others have been asking to meet with the board to discuss the schedule for two years, but a date was never set.
“That’s unheard of,” she said, “and you’re going to have a meeting today and push that and expect not to have concerns or questions. That’s very alarming. The chief financial officer is leaving September 1st. The State Department has said they can’t send anyone in to assist. Who is going to act as CFO? Who is going to help out the finance department? Why is the State Department not sending people in to assist?”
Just last month, the board approved a takeover by the state board of education. Part of the reason was questions of how the finances were being managed. The chief financial officer is retiring on Sept. 1, and that leaves the department without someone to lead it. The inconsistencies with the salary schedule aren’t helping give others confidence in the way things are being done. Alabama Education Association’s Emery Kidd believes everything has been done by the book and above board.
“We’ve already been talking to Dr. [Daniel] Boyd about getting those approved,” he said. “There are some lingering questions surrounding different salaries, and we’re looking forward to having those questions answered at that time. Ultimately, the thing I can say is that we have not found any financial doing by the finance department here in Bessemer.”
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The school board has until Oct. 1 to make changes to the salary schedule before the state board of education approves it. School board member Margie Varner said she’s not confident the board will get it done by the deadline.
“It should be equal to the total numbers that you have on your overall budget sheet for revenues and expenditures, and it doesn’t,” she said. “When you recognize the problem, I think it should be addressed at that time. You shouldn’t pass it on for somebody else to solve it. When you already know that there is a problem. That’s how I personally feel.”
If the board can’t fix its issues with the salary schedule in time, it can ask the state for an extension. Hughes, Varner and Kidd all said they’re ready to work to make sure an extension is not needed.
