Four teachers earn tenure; school board advances budget

7:40 p.m. May 14, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Four Moore County teachers earned tenure Thursday night as the Moore County Board of Education approved Jennifer Byrd, Debbie Sittloh, Holly White, and Kris White, each on a separate vote.

The meeting also advanced a proposed 2026-27 school budget that includes a new bus, textbook money, staff raises, added elementary staffing, and no property tax increase requested by the school system.

Board Chair Tanya Vann said the teachers had been recommended by their principals. Rather than approving the recommendations in one bundle, board members voted on each teacher individually. Each was approved without opposition by Carrie Barnett, Ed Cashion, Kaleigh Hatfield, and Vann. Jammie Cashion was absent.

Budget Includes Bus, Textbooks, Raises

Director of Schools Chad Moorehead told the board that the proposed budget is still subject to change before final approval in June, largely because the district is still awaiting its final TISA state funding allocation. He said the April estimate did not show a reduction from the previous number, which he called a good sign, but the district expects another estimate by the end of May.

As presented, the budget includes a new school bus at $165,000, $75,000 for additional textbooks, and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for support staff.

Teacher pay also would rise because of a mandatory increase tied to the state’s base salary requirements and the TISA funding formula. Moorehead said that the increase totals about $115,000. Once step increases are included, teacher salary lines also show a close to 3% increase.

Moorehead emphasized that the request applies only to the school system’s proposed budget and does not control the county’s overall property tax decision.

Insurance And Retirement Costs Rise

The budget also includes a projected 10% increase in health insurance. Moorehead said he originally used 8% in early budget discussions but raised the number based on what the district has been told to expect.

Retirement costs are also changing. Support staff retirement costs are increasing slightly to 10% from 9.73%. Legacy teacher retirement costs are increasing from 5.77% to 6.35%, while hybrid teacher retirement remains at 9%.

Enrollment Drives Staffing Changes

Moorehead said the proposed budget includes an additional elementary school classroom teacher due to enrollment growth. The district is still waiting to see exactly how many kindergarten students will enroll for next school year.

The budget also moves one vacant position from Moore County High School to Lynchburg Elementary School to help create another class for students with severe disabilities. Later in the meeting, Moorehead clarified that the position being moved was the vacant band position that remained in the budget from the prior year.

The budget also reflects an estimated $635,000 increase in state funding tied to enrollment.

Moorehead said the proposal would leave the school system with 6% in fund balance, above the 3% minimum requirement. He noted that the Comptroller’s Office prefers 15%, but said building toward that level will take time.

The board approved the proposed 2026-27 general-purpose school budget, with the understanding that the numbers may still change before June as final state funding estimates arrive and the county budget process continues.

The school budget now moves into the county budget process, with Metro Council expected to take first reading on Monday, May 18, and second reading in June.

Other Needs Remain Unfunded For Now

Moorehead also reviewed several items not included in the current budget proposal but likely to return if money becomes available.

Those include paving at the elementary school, seal coating at the high school, security camera updates, metal weapons detection systems, other security upgrades, additional parking at the elementary school, and copier needs as the district’s current lease nears its end in August.

The high school seal-coating quote is about $95,000, while weapons detection systems are estimated at about $90,000.

Field Trips Approved

The board also approved several overnight or out-of-state student trips.

Those included one HOSA student traveling to the national competition in Indianapolis, two girls' basketball camps, and two boys' basketball camps.

Personnel Updates Announced

In his director’s report, Moorehead said the district has received two resignations since the last school board meeting: Justin Brown, boys' high school basketball coach and social studies teacher, and Rebecca Davis, who served in an HMI teaching position at LES.

Moorehead also announced several new hires.

At LES, new hires include Katlynn Luttrell, Emma Williams, Hannah Sanders, Haley Woods, Brenda Durbin, and Katie Martin. Durbin will fill one of the HMI roles, while the district is still looking to fill another.

At Moore County High School, Catie Embrey has been hired as girls' basketball coach and PE teacher. Lavon King has been hired as the boys' basketball coach and is expected to work in work-based learning, with possible PE duties as well.

Moorehead also said the new high school principal, Andy Giel (pronounced Gill), has been hired. He is expected to visit before the end of the school year to meet teachers.

Summer Camp, Graduation, Office Hours

• Moorehead said the summer learning camp will begin shortly after Memorial Day and run for four weeks, four days a week.

• The central office also plans to continue its summer hours, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., once students are out of school.

• Moorehead also reminded the board that graduation was scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, May 15, at the high school football field, weather permitting.